CASSOPOLIS — Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge called it “pathetic.”

Assistant Prosecutor Attorney Tiffiny Vohwinkle called it “ridiculous.”

No matter what you call it, more than $55,000 in unpaid child support landed Robert McKnight in jail.

McKnight, 38 of South Bend, Ind., was sentenced to 270 days in Cass County jail and five years of probation on Friday.

He received credit for 113 days already served.

Since his son was born in 1994, McKnight has only made three child support payments, according to Dodge.

For his part, McKnight was apologetic.

“I love my family and my kids very much,” he said, adding he went back to school to get his diploma and is looking for work.

Dodge said he had no objections to work release.

Niles criminal back in jail

Jeffrey Allen was getting his life back on track and was three months away from being discharged from parole, but a couple of bad decisions landed him right back in jail.

Allen, 28, of Niles, was sentenced to 120 days in jail Friday at Cass County Circuit Court for possession of a controlled substance analogue.

In August last year, Allen was driving with a suspended license when he was pulled over by police for violating a Howard Township noise ordinance for playing his stereo too loudly.

When the officer discovered he was driving on a suspended license, a search revealed Allen also possessed the controlled substance codeine without a prescription.

Allen has seven prior felonies, including for cocaine-related offenses. Allen claims the drugs were his uncle’s.

“I didn’t know it was illegal,” Allen told Judge Michael Dodge.