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NILES — A Berrien Springs man convicted of carrying out a series of central Berrien County robberies last year was sentenced to prison Monday in Berrien County Trial Court.

Edward Deontae Turner, 39, of Midway Drive, Berrien Springs, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of armed robbery, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of receiving, concealing or possession of a stolen firearm.

      Turner was sentenced to 210 months-17.5 years to 50 years in prison for the two armed robbery counts, 18 months to five years in prison on the felon in possession of a firearm count and 18 months to 10 years in prison on the receiving, concealing or possession of a stolen firearm count.

He has credit for 340 days served and must pay $1,062 in fines, costs and restitution. All the sentences are concurrent.

      Turner had originally been charged with 13 counts, including two additional armed robbery counts, three more counts of felon in possession of a firearm and four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He had also been charged with being a habitual offender.

The incidents occurred between June 25 and Nov. 14 of last year. The June 25 armed robbery was at the Dollar General in Oronoko Township, the Sept. 6 incident at the Dollar General in Royalton Township, the Oct. 10 incident at the Dollar General in Benton Township and the Nov. 14 incident at the BP gas station in Oronoko Township.

      Turner apologized to his victims, the court and his family. He said he regrets not being there in the future if his father dies and for his children’s graduations.

      “I wish you had thought about that before you took these actions,” Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein said.

      Also Monday, an area resident was sentenced to prison for criminal sexual conduct.

      Steven Sean Freeze, Jr., of South Bend, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct and attempted possession of child sexually abusive materials and was sentenced to 86 months to 15 years in prison on the CSC charge and two years to five years on the child sexually abusive materials charge.

      He has credit for 181 days already served and must pay $326 in fines and costs. He must also register as a sex offender for 25 years.

      The incident involved an underage female and was reported to police on April 4. A statement from the victim indicated that she was scared, felt hopeless and didn’t think anyone would help her.

      Freeze apologized for his actions. “I’m sorry for everything, I made a bad mistake,” he said. “I’m truly wholeheartedly sorry.”

      Judge Hosbein noted the impact the situation had had on the victim including threats and intimidation from Freeze’s family. “The most appropriate and proper sentence is at the top of the guidelines,” he said.

      An Edwardsburg man who was sentenced to prison in Cass County earlier this summer received another prison term.

      Larry Ray Morbach, 55, of Edwardsburg, pleaded guilty to third degree fleeing and eluding police and was sentenced to 14 months to five years in prison and was sentenced to $298 in fines and costs. He has credit for 39 days already served. The sentence is concurrent with the Cass County sentence.

      The incident here in Berrien County occurred June 7, the day after he had pleaded guilty in Cass County to delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 12 years to 30 years in prison in the Cass County case.

      Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Jerry Vigansky asked for a prison sentence. He noted that Morbach was speeding up to 90 miles per hour and was weaving in and out of traffic.

      Morbach apologized and said he was thankful that he didn’t hurt anyone as he fled from police.

      In other sentencings:

• Justin Lee Beadle, 29, pleaded guilty to taking a protected animal and other charges and was sentenced to credit for one day served, $375 in fines and costs and $6,000 restitution to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
• Teikesha Miller, 42, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for 119 days served and $658 in fines and costs. The incident occurred May 19.
• Brian Van Wesaw, 57, pleaded guilty to attempted third degree home invasion and was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit for 71 days already served and $198 in fines and costs. The incident occurred May 13.