CASS COURT SENTENCE HANSON TO PRISON FOR CSC; BERRIEN COUNTY CASE REPORT: DUI,TRESPASSING AND B&E

Recent court news includes prison sentences for Edwardsburg and Berrien Center residents as well as probation sentences for other area residents.
In Cass Circuit Court, an Edwardsburg man was sentenced last week to a mandatory term of 25 years in prison after being found guilty of child molestation after an August jury trial.
George Hanson, 67, of South Leonard Court in Edwardsburg, was found guilty of five counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (penetration) after the mid-August trial and was sentenced last week to concurrent prison terms of 25 to 40 years. He must also register as a sex offender.
The incidents occurred from 2007 to 2014 at a home in Edwardsburg against a young girl who was nine when the molestation began.
The victim, now 19, testified during the two-day trial as well as her mother, other family members, childhood friends, expert witnesses, police officers and others who corroborated her testimony.
“The defendant’s days of sexual corruption are over,” Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said. “This verdict assures a mandatory 25 year sentence. His first chance at parole will be at age 93.”
In Berrien County Trial Court, a Berrien Center resident with a history of substance abuse was sentenced to prison.
Jennifer Lin Zelmer, 47, of Deans Hill Road in Berrien Center, pleaded guilty to resisting and obstructing police and second offense drunk driving and was sentenced to 14 months to two years in prison for resisting and obstructing police and 180 days in jail for drunk driving. She can serve her prison sentence in a boot camp if possible.
She must pay $598 in fines and costs and be tested for HIV and hepatitis due to her contact with the sheriff’s deputy who received a puncture wound during the struggle.
The incident June 4 in Niles Township where she was stopped for drunk driving and then resisted and obstructed Berrien County Sheriff’s Deputy Marcelo Perez. Her blood alcohol level was .13, well above the legal .08 limit.
Berrien County Trial Judge Angela Pasula noted that Zelmer has been on probation three times and to jail twice previously. “You have seven convictions for alcohol and drugs,” she told Zelmer. “You’ve been using marijuana while out on bond.”
“You have a problem with alcohol, drugs and obeying orders,” the judge added. “You haven’t made a true effort to turn things around.”
A Niles man with drug and alcohol problems was sentenced to probation after he was caught on top of an electrical transformer on the east side of Niles.
Travis Warren Dunifin, 43, of North Seventh Street in Niles, pleaded no contest to attempted trespassing upon a keyed facility and was sentenced to three years probation, 100 days in jail and $1,258 in fines and costs. He has credit for 46 days already served.
The incident occurred June 4 at a transformer at 12th and Sheffield in the city of Niles. Dunifin said he became disoriented after consuming what turned out to be the drug Ecstasy at a campout.
Dunifin has seven past convictions for drugs and alcohol, has been to jail 16 times and to prison three times.
Steven Anthony Machurick, 26, of North Harrison Street in Berrien Springs, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny and was sentenced to two years probation in drug court, 110 days in jail, $1,034 restitution and $1,138 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred April 17 when he broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home in Niles and stole her wallet and some checks.
“Number one, you don’t go into another person’s house without their permission,” Judge Pasula said. “Number two, addiction is one thing, being a thief is another. They are two separate choices.”