COURT NEWS

By DEBRA HAIGHT

BCR Correspondent

This week’s court news includes sentencings in both Berrien County Trial Court and Cass County Circuit Court.

Shane Anthony Lott, 38, was sentenced in Berrien County Trial Court to two terms of 12 to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to tampering with

an electronic device and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He must pay $266 in fines and costs.

He has credit for no time served as he was on parole from 2014 unlawful use of a motor vehicle and tampering with an electronic device sentences when he was arrested. The two sentences handed down this week are concurrent with each other but consecutive to any sentence related to his parole violation.

The unlawful use of a motor vehicle incident took place March 12 at a location in Niles Township. The tampering with an electronic device incident occurred Nov. 29 at a location in Benton Harbor.

“Tampering with an electronic device is a real serious situation,” Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata said. “The court tries to use alternative means to keep track of people with how crowded the jails are. When you cut off your tether and commit crimes while on parole, it’s serious.”

“I think it’s time for prison, we’re unable to supervise you locally,” the judge added. He cited Lott’s past record involving several criminal convictions as a reason for his decision to send Lott back to prison.

In Cass County Circuit Court, two area men were sentenced to prison last week.

Michael William Enboden, 49, of Third Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to unarmed robbery and larceny from a person as a habitual offender and was

sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison on the robbery charge and eight to 30 years in prison on the larceny charge.

The two prison terms are concurrent. He has credit for 169 days already served and was ordered to pay $1,116 in fines and costs and $1,005.50 restitution.

The incident occurred Oct. 3 at a home in the 400 block of West Division Street in Dowagiac when Enboden and his co-defendant Jami Cabana broke into Gary Bromley’s home and robbed and assaulted him. Cabana had been staying at the home and was mad at Bromley when he told her to leave. Cabana was sentenced to prison last month.

“You beat up and robbed Mr. Bromley, Cass Circuit Judge Mark Herman said Friday in court. “You struck him in the face and knocked him down. You put a bag over his head while she ransacked the home. He had abrasions and bruises and had to go to a nursing home for rehabilitation. Now he is no longer able to walk.”

Brandon Devault McNeill, 31, pleaded guilty to nine larceny and breaking and entering related charges and was sentenced to four concurrent terms of six

to 10 years in prison. He was given credit for time served, 467 days, on five other charges. He must pay $2,652 in fines and costs and $14,300 in restitution.

McNeill was sentenced to prison for larceny over $20,000, conspiracy to commit larceny over $20,000, breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering a building.

He was given credit for time served for two counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,000 and less than $20,000, two counts of unlawful driving away of an automobile and one count of larceny in a building. Nearly two dozen other felony counts as well as being charged as habitual offender were dismissed.

The incident occurred Dec. 16, 2017 in the 60000 block of Chain Lake Street near Vandalia. McNeill and two co-defendants, Taylor Overton and Peter Wharton, stole numerous items including weapons, tools and all terrain vehicles.

Back in Berrien County Trial Court, Judge LaSata also handed down probation sentences this week to three area residents.

Victor John Aranda, 49, of Bakertown Road in Buchanan, pleaded guilty to third offense drunk driving and was sentenced to two years probation, 480

hours of community service, 90 days in jail, 120 days tether and $1,158 in fines and costs. His vehicle was ordered immobilized and his license was suspended for a year.

The incident occurred Feb. 27 on South 11^th Street in Niles Township where his blood alcohol content was found to be .15, nearly twice the legal limit. His previous drunk driving convictions were in May 2012 and June 2015.

Gequintha Nichols, 28, of Oak Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine less than 25 grams and was sentenced to 18 months probation, 30 days in jail and $1,138 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Nov. 1 when she sold drugs to an undercover police officer in the parking lot of Rural King on South 11^th Street in Niles Township. While Nichols called her actions a “mistake”, Judge LaSata questioned why she would sell drugs when she had a good job at the Berrien RESA.

Stephan Zachery Rogers, 25, of North Cayuga Street in Buchanan, pleaded guilty to home invasion and domestic violence and was sentenced to 30

months probation, 150 days in jail, 90 days tether and $1,008 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred March 9 at a residence on West Fourth Street in Buchanan. Judge LaSata noted that Rogers had nine prior convictions.