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CASSOPOLIS — Three area residents were sentenced for drug offenses Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Martha Cramer, 47, of Jones, was convicted of possession of methamphetamine after a September jury trial and was sentenced Friday to 300 days in jail with credit for 44 days served. She must pay $198 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Jan. 29 at Cramer’s home in Jones when probation agents made a routine compliance visit and found meth and scales. At the time she was on probation for a April 19, 2024 possession of meth conviction and she remains on that probation now.

Friday, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Cramer is her own worst enemy and continues to make bad decisions. Fitz said that while Cramer may have mental health issues but that many people with mental health issues don’t use illegal drugs.

He asked for Cramer to be sentenced to prison, noting her past record which has included not only drug charges but convictions for assault, larceny, weapons and welfare fraud. “The public needs to be protected from her, it gives me no great joy but she needs to go to prison,” he said.

Defense attorney Robert Drake said that Cramer has mental health issues, is bipolar and has substance use disorder. He said that a jail rather than prison sentence would be appropriate and still protect the community. For her part, Cramer said she would like to get help.

“Sometimes people have to pursue treatment on their own,” Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman said. “… You say you don’t like meth and that your drug of choice is cocaine, that has to stop as well. Self medicating is always a problem and that brings you into the criminal justice system.”

He noted that Cramer started using meth three years ago. “It can’t be worth it if you’re now facing prison,” he said. “Use your smarts and don’t use meth. You can’t just keep thumbing your nose at the system, at some point it’s going to come back and bite you.”

Eric Heiman, 36, of Edwardsburg, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for 69 days served and $2,268 in fines and costs. He is ordered to perform 30 hours of community service a week if he is not working. The charge will be reduced to use of meth if he is successful on probation.

The incident occurred July 2 in Porter Township. Police had received a report from Elkhart County police of a truck driving erratically and found the truck and Heiman at a gas station on U.S. 12. Traces of meth were found in the truck.

Judge Herman said Heiman has a 20 year history of drug and alcohol abuse as well as a history of assaultive behavior. He noted that Heiman has served two six month jail terms in Cass County and Elkhart County since 2023.

“You’re at the point in life that this is a now or never moment for you,” he said. “You need to appreciate what the consequences will be if you fail on probation. If you try to walk the fence and do the least you can do, you will be back, do you want that?”

Corey Daniel Kosloski, 36, of Bristol, Indiana, pleaded guilty to use of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 10 months probation, credit for two days served and $1,855 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Aug. 3, 2024 in Mason Township.