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CASSOPOLIS — A homeless man who had been bothering businesses in Dowagiac earlier this year was sentenced to probation Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Donald Scott Marvel, 53, now of Cassopolis, pleaded guilty to seduction and was sentenced to 18 months probation, credit for 91 days served, completion of the Twin County Probation program and $1,088 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Jan. 9 in Dowagiac when he was arrested after a disturbance at the Dowagiac Subway in which he was drunk, sat down and demanded food. There was a struggle when he was asked to leave during which time he grabbed the breast of a female employee.

      “He said he needs help,” said Assistant Prosecutor Jason Ronning. “I would hope he would stop bothering the businesses in Dowagiac. He had gone that night from place to place, bothering and accosting people. I would hope he stops drinking and gets the help he needs.”

      “He would like Twin County, it would give him a roof over his head,” said defense attorney Robert Drake. “Most people who are homeless don’t choose that life, they just want someplace warm and food to eat. One of the things people do is aggression because that’s the only time people pay attention to them.”

      Marvel apologized for his actions.

“I need to get off the street, it’s been very stressful for me,” he said.

      “You’re 53 years old and have been unemployed since 2022 when you were in a car accident,” said Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman. “You’ve been using alcohol since you were 17. Here, you were drinking pretty much all of the time and you were homeless.”

      “Obviously this behavior is not tolerated,” he added. “If you keep drinking, you will be back in front of the courts for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace and be in and out of jail.”

Kaitlin Ashley O’Dell, 26, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty to attempted fourth degree fleeing and eluding police and was sentenced to credit for five days served and $1,475 in fines and costs. She also pleaded guilty to violating her probation for a 2023 possession of meth conviction and had her probation continued.

      The current incident occurred Feb. 19 on U.S. 12 and Eagle Lake Road in Edwardsburg after she had dropped her daughters off at school in Edwardsburg. Police attempted to stop her for speeding and she fled into Indiana. She was clocked at going up to 81 miles per hour.

      “I never understand why people flee police,” Judge Herman said. “You will always eventually get caught and instead of getting a speeding ticket, you face a felony. You totally compound it when you flee, you put yourself and others in danger just because you didn’t stop for a speeding ticket.”