BERRIEN COUNTY TRIAL COURT ISSUES MULTIPLE PRISON SENTENCES

In court action last week, several area residents were sentenced to prison for crimes including cutting off an electronic monitoring device and criminal sexual conduct.
Jeron Allen, 30, of Cedar Street in Niles, was sentenced last week in Berrien County Trial Court to a fifth prison term for cutting on his electronic monitoring device. He pleaded guilty to tampering with an electronic device and was sentenced to a prison term of 12 to 24 months.
He had credit for no time served as he was on parole at the time of the offense. His 12 month prison term will be consecutive to any prison term he has to serve from violating his parole from a Dec. 23, 2013 sentence for third offense domestic violence. He had been on parole since Dec. 23, 2015.
Allen cut off his electronic monitoring device Nov. 1 at his home on Cedar Street in Niles. Defense attorney Scott Sanford noted that Allen took his children out trick or treating on Oct. 31, knew he had violated his parole terms and cut off his electronic monitoring device the following day.
His previous prison terms were from April 18, 2011 sentences for possession of marijuana and third-degree home invasion and a Jan. 28, 2008 sentence for possession of narcotics.
“Why?” Berrien County Trial Judge Angela Pasula asked. “You were on parole tether and you know what is going to put you back in jail or prison. You were on parole for third offense domestic violence and you’ve been to prison four times.”
“You’re not new at this,” the judge added. “There are a whole host of violations here. I don’t think 180 days in jail does it. Your prior record variable is one of the highest I’ve seen.”
In another prison sentence, a Berrien Township teen was sentenced to prison for molesting a six year old girl.
Quran Rahim Abdullah, 19, of Deans Hill Road in Berrien Township, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to 32 months to 15 years in prison. He has credit for 162 days already served.
The incident Aug. 29 at a home in Berrien Township. He was found competent to stand trial Jan. 17.
“This is most unfortunate, it was obviously a very devastating life altering event for (the victim),” Pasula said. “It’s a very, very sad set of circumstances.”
Abdullah also pleaded guilty to attempted resisting and obstructing police in connection with a foiled escape attempt from the Berrien County Jail in St. Joseph. He was sentenced to time served, 126 days, on that charge.
That incident occurred Oct. 3 at the county jail when he ran at a sheriff’s deputy when the deputy opened the door of a holding cell. Abdullah said he had been in an altercation with another deputy and ran out when the deputy opened the door. He was caught inside the jail and never reached the outside.
Abdullah was originally charged with escape awaiting trial, assault of a prison employee and resisting and obstructing police causing injury. Those charges were dismissed.
A Dowagiac man was sent to prison after being caught molesting a young girl last year.
Lee Roy Miller, Jr., 35, of East Railroad Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced Friday in Cass Circuit Court to a prison term of 15 to 25 years. He has credit for 229 days already served and was ordered to pay $548. He must register as a sex offender.
The molestation occurred over a period of five years against an underage girl at a location in Dowagiac. He was arrested last June in Dowagiac.
The girl’s mother spoke before the sentencing and said the molestation had destroyed not only her daughter but her three other children. She said all her children have trust issues and live in fear.
“He’s caused so much pain and sadness,” the woman said. “He deserves to serve time so we have time to begin to heal.”
“We deal with these cases too often and sometimes the system’s response can become mechanical,” Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said. “But they have an earthquake kind of impact on the victims. They suffer mentally and physically, they suffer stress, anxiety and depression.”
Fitz said the victim “will never be the same” as “the memories will never leave her.” “She is a pleasant young girl who has a lot of positives going for her, but there’s no question that this has impacted her greatly,” he said.
Fitz urged a sentence above the guideline recommendations of 81 to 135 months as he noted that the recommendations didn’t take into account the extent of Miller’s molestation. “A sentence of 15 to 25 years is entirely appropriate for the heinous acts perpetrated on this girl,” he said.
Defense attorney James Miller had a different take on the matter. He said his client has no prior criminal history and has suffered from learning disabilities.
Cass Circuit Judge Mark Herman told Lee Roy Miller that he should consider himself lucky that the mother of the girl didn’t kill him when she caught him molesting her daughter. “You justified your actions by saying you didn’t force yourself on her, to me that’s offensive,” the judge said.
Herman agreed with Fitz’s assessment that Miller deserved a more punitive sentence. “You’ve destroyed multiple lives including yours,” he said.