SENTENCING NEWS: BERRIEN AND CASS COUNTY COURTS

Recent court action in Berrien and Cass courts include both prison and probation sentences for a variety of offenses.
In Berrien County Trial Court, a Dowagiac man was sentenced in connection with a September drunk driving incident in Berrien Springs.
William Slatter-Quentin Sheffield, 40, of Water Street in Dowagiac, was sentenced in Berrien County Trial Court to a prison term of 23 months to five years. He must pay $198 in fines and costs.
Sheffield has credit for no time already served as he was on parole at the time of his arrest. He was originally sentenced to probation in September 2015 for the earlier third offense drunk driving conviction and then sent to prison on June 28, 2016 when he violated his probation.
His most recent drunk driving incident occurred Sept. 23 at Ferry and Cass Streets in downtown Berrien Springs. His blood alcohol level when he was stopped was .35, more than four times the legal limit. His drunk driving convictions go back 20 years.
Defense attorney Kevin Banyon described his client as a “bright guy” who is a productive citizen when he’s not drinking. “Unfortunately, he has an alcohol addiction,” he said.
Sheffield apologized for driving when he was drunk. “I know I have a severe alcohol problem, I’m disgusted with myself,” he said. “I’ve come so far and then I turn around and do the same thing over again. My children are disgusted with me too. I just want to take care of my family.”
“You’ve been spectacularly unsuccessful on your own,” Berrien County Trial Judge Scott Schofield said. “You’ve squandered the opportunities you’ve been given. Prison isn’t magic, it doesn’t cure you from your alcohol problem but it does separate you from society and protects society from you.”
In a second sentencing, a Niles man was given the chance to stay out of jail after being convicted of attempted assault by strangulation which is a five year felony.
Jimmy Van Le, 35, of Emmons Street in Niles, was convicted of attempted assault by strangulation and sentenced to two years probation, 90 days on home incarceration tether and $1,940 in fines and costs. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
The incident occurred Sept. 23 at a home in Niles. Le choked the victim and threw her on the ground several times. Le last year posted nude pictures of the victim online in what was called “revenge porn” in court.
Judge Schofield told Le that his actions affect his two young children. “You’ve been teaching him how to disrespect and be violent with women,” he said. “You have to be the man you want him to grow up to be … You’re also teaching your daughter how she can expect to be treated by her boyfriend.”
In Cass Circuit Court, a man who broke into a Niles area home will get the chance to stay out of prison if he completes a probationary term.
Zachary Allen Kozlowski, 19, pleaded guilty Oct. 27 to conspiracy to commit first-degree home invasion and first-degree home invasion and was sentenced in mid-December to three years probation in the Swift & Sure program, $1,976 in fines and costs and $5,041 in restitution. He has credit for 200 days already served.
The incident occurred Jan 26 at a home on Leet Road in Milton Township. Kozlowski and an accomplice, Devin Hays, stole a number of items including a purse, a checkbook, liquor and bank cards. Hays was sentenced earlier to prison.
“He has learned that he needs to choose his friends better,” defense attorney Jim Miller said. “Swift & Sure is the kind of institutional structure he hasn’t had, it may help him get help and make better choices.”
Cass Circuit Judge Mark Herman noted that Kozlowski had had probations revoked twice in the past. “I hope you understand this matter is a little more serious,” he said. “If you violate, you will go to prison. I will go along with the Swift & Sure probation, I want you to become a productive member of society.”
A Kalamazoo woman is getting the chance to deal with her drug addiction and stay out of prison.
Christina Marie Risner, 32, of Portage Road in Kalamazoo, was sentenced to three years probation in the Swift & Sure program for three meth-related counts. She has credit for 156 days already served and must pay $2,044 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred in early July at a location on North Front Street in Dowagiac. Risner came to Dowagiac to sell drugs and then dumped the drugs in a public restroom when she saw police. She faces additional charges in Allegan and Kalamazoo counties.
A Niles man who wrote bad checks and scammed his grandfather to support his drug habit was given probation and jail.
John Stewart, 40, of Baldwin Drive in Niles, was sentenced to two years probation, 300 days in jail, $1,924 in fines and costs and $475 in restitution for three counts of uttering and publishing and one count of identity theft. He has credit for 154 days already served and can spend his final 120 days in jail in the Twin County Probation program.
The incident occurred between Feb. 18 and Feb. 20 at the Marathon station in Edwardsburg when he wrote a number of checks on a closed account.
Stewart’s aunt spoke before the sentencing and said that her nephew had duped her father to give him his retirement savings. “He’s very good at creating stories, he cries, begs and steals,” Sandra Baucus said. “The only time we have peace is when he’s in jail.”