NILES – Fleeing police proved to be the wrong move for three area residents as they were sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court. Meanwhile, a Benton Harbor man faces charges in connection with home break-ins in the St. Joseph area and the preliminary hearing for a Niles Township murder suspect has been delayed.
The preliminary hearing for John Benton Lewis will now be held Monday, Sept. 25 in Berrien County Trial Court in St. Joseph before Berrien County Trial Judge Donna Howard. Lewis is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Aug. 13 death of his wife at their home in Niles Township.
Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic reported last week that James Jonathon Dulaney, 36, of Benton Harbor had been charged with one felony home invasion charge and 6 misdemeanor charges related to his alleged entry into homes in St. Joseph Township over the last several weeks.
Sepic said all of the incidents occurred on a number of days in the early morning hours between 12:00 am and 7:00 am. in St. Joseph Township neighborhoods just north and just south of Eaton Park.
Dulaney is charged with first degree home invasion from an incident that occurred on August 23 where the resident awoke in bed to an intruder’s touch. The intruder then fled.
In two incidents on August 26, he is charged with Illegal Entry for incidents where an intruder fled after residents discovered an intruder in their home. In another incident on August 26 a resident observed an intruder peeping in her window for which Dulaney is charged with Window Peeping.
He is also charged with Illegal Entry for three incidents on September 6 in the Fairplain area of St. Joseph Township, just north and just south of Napier Avenue.
In two of those incidents the defendant fled after residents discovered an intruder. In another, while police were searching for the suspect with the help of a tracking dog, the defendant is alleged to have entered a closed garage and was then seen crawling out of a window.
He was apprehended by police with the assistance of the Michigan State Police canine unit. First degree home invasion is a felony punishable by up to 20 years. Illegal entry and window peeping are misdemeanors punishable by up to 90 days.
Dulaney’s bond was set at $10,000.00 cash or surety bond on the felony charge and $500.00 cash bond on each misdemeanor. His pre-exam conference is set for September 15, 2017 and his preliminary examination hearing for September 21, both at 8:30 in Berrien County’s St. Joseph court.
In sentencings this week, two Niles men and a Coloma man were all sentenced on charges related to fleeing and eluding police.
Anthony Keith Downey, 18, of Florence Avenue in Niles, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree fleeing and eluding police and receiving and concealing stolen property-a motor vehicle and was sentenced to two years probation, 80 days in jail and completion of the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program.
Downey has credit for 47 days already served. He must also pay $1,130 in fines and costs. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
The incident occurred July 27 when he fled police near Brandywine High School and was in possession of a car stolen from Express Auto on South 11th Street in Niles Township. He ran a stop sign on South 17th Street and drove at speeds of over 90 miles per hour.
“The car rolled over three times,” Berrien County Trial Judge Angela Pasula said. “You’re very fortunate that you’re not here on much more serious matters or not in the cemetery … You turned the car into a lethal weapon.”
Corvell Latrai Hardnett, 28, of Clantin Lane in Coloma, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree fleeing and eluding police and was sentenced to two years probation, 45 days in jail and completion of the Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Program. He has credit for two days already served and must pay $1,138 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred Feb. 25 on the U.S. 31 freeway when he fled from police in Niles Township and continued northward off the highway onto Pipestone Road and the Sodus Parkway before abandoning the car in Coloma. He was being pursued because he was wanted in Indiana for domestic violence.
Pasula noted that Hardnett’s past record included four jail sentences, one prison sentence and six parole violations. “You were a danger to everyone on the road,” she said.
LeCarrington Roy Underwood, 30, of Seventh Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree fleeing and eluding police and was sentenced to two years probation, 45 days tether and $1,198 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred July 24 in downtown Niles. Underwood apologized and said he panicked when police tried to stop him.
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