Cass County pair gets probation, drug treatment

A Jones couple will be spending the next two years together on probation while undergoing drug addiction treatment.

Cass County Circuit Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Dennis and Lucille Reingardt to two years of probation on Monday, on charges of possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. Both had already pleaded guilty to the charges in prior appearance in court on Aug. 29.

Their arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred on April 23. On that day, detectives with the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at the couple’s home on Chapel Hill, where they discovered the two to be in possession of meth and paraphernalia for using the substance, Dodge said.

“During questioning by officers, you even admitted to them that you have been using methamphetamine over the past 20 years,” the judge said.

Both Reingardts were given plea agreements by the prosecutors office to enter into the county’s drug treatment court program, allowing them to bypass a two year stint in prison. Despite that, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Frank Machnik warned that the rehabilitation program wouldn’t be easy.

“He has a great opportunity to address his problem and get that monkey off his back,” Machnik said, prior to Dennis’ sentencing. “But it’s not an easy go; he is looking at significant prison time, per his plea agreement, should he be unsuccessful. That’s something that should be foremost in his mind when he enters this program.”

Both defendants also spoke on their behalf in front of the judge before receiving their sentence.

“I want to thank the court for giving me the opportunity to address my addiction, and to kick it,” Dennis said.

Also sentenced on Monday was Brett Allen Delaney, of Edwardsburg, to two years of probation for meth related charges.