Recent court action in Berrien and Cass courts include guilty pleas in two murder cases, the sentencing of an elderly Buchanan man for causing the death of a Granger couple and news of alleged threats at several Berrien County schools.
School safety has been on people’s minds since the Valentine’s Day school shooting in Florida. Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic reported last week on the status of school threat investigations conducted by area law enforcement over the last few months.
Sepic said the investigations first determined the imminence of a true threat of violence, then proceeded to gather evidence to forward to the Prosecutor’s Office to determine if the elements of criminal charges were met and if charges were appropriate given the particular circumstances.
He noted that while the school incidents were very different, they all caused fear, anxiety and caution for those involved. Bridgman and Berrien Springs incidents involved students overhearing conversations, while a St. Joseph incident involved a student posting a message on Snapchat. Sepic said his office found no cause for action in any of those incidents.
The prosecutor’s office did find reason to press charges in incidents occurring in a Watervliet school as well as at Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs. In a Watervliet Schools incident an electronic communication was received by one student from another which included pictures, which, if read and believed, would cause fear of an imminent assault.
Similarly, an Andrews Academy student sent electronic communications received by others, which, if read and believed, would have also caused fear of an imminent assault. Law enforcement quickly determined neither was a true threat but Sepic’s office has petitioned the Berrien County Juvenile Court to accept both cases.
Sepic said both law enforcement and area schools take such situations seriously and follow up on all information and complaints received.
An elderly Buchanan man and retired Andrews University faculty member who caused an accident that killed a Granger couple was sentenced last week to probation, community service and restitution for funeral expenses.
Charles Habenicht, 81, pleaded no contest to one count of a moving violation causing death, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to one year probation and nearly $31,000 in fines, costs and restitution for funeral expenses. He must perform 250 hours of community service by Feb. 1, 2019. He cannot drive a car for the next year.
The accident occurred April 22, 2017 at Shawnee and Garr Roads in Oronoko Township. Both Habenicht and David and Christine Cox were on Shawnee with Habenicht westbound and the Coxes eastbound. Habenicht said he was blinded by the sun and did not see the motorcycle as he turned left in front of them and struck them.
“This was obviously a very tragic situation,” Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata said. “This incident involved negligence and regrettably no sentence I can give will bring them back … I believe he is truly remorseful. Immediately after the accident he jumped out of his car and tried to help both victims.”
There were guilty pleas last week in two Cass County murder cases.
William Henderson, 24, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will be sentenced April 6 in Cass Circuit Court. The plea agreement calls for Henderson to receive a minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Henderson admitted to stabbing a co-worker, Jan Mendez, in the neck and killing him last year. Both 
were employees at Ameri-Kart in Mason Township near Edwardsburg.
In the other case, Joseph Alan Craigo, 32, of Elkhart, agree to plead guilty to second-degree murder as a habitual offender. The plea agreement calls for him to be sentenced within the guidelines but does not set a minimum sentence. His sentencing is set for April 13.
Craigo admitted to stabbing his father, Alan Craigo, in the neck and killing him at the father’s Mason Township home near the state line east of Edwardsburg.
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