COURT NEWS

By DEBRA HAIGHT

BCR Correspondent

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

A Niles man received a probation sentence for use of methamphetamine, while a South Bend man received probation for writing bad checks.

Patrick Ryan Muntz, 27, of Cedar Point Drive in Niles, pleaded guilty to

second offense use of methamphetamine and was sentenced to two years probation and $1,138 in fines and costs.

He was given credit for seven days already served and will be admitted into the court’s drug treatment program if he tests negative for drugs.

The incident occurred March 7 when police were called to a factory on U.S. 12 and Chicago Road in Bertrand Township on reports of a suspected overdose.

Ryan Wayne Rose, 51, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to attempted uttering and publishing and was sentenced to two years probation, 30 days in jail and $1,792.42 in fines, costs and restitution.

The incident occurred Oct. 12 at the Harding’s store in Niles.

In other sentencings, a number of area residents were sentenced to prison on a variety of charges.

Dean Allen Kietzer, 44, of Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to violating his probation from a July 2017 conviction for third offense domestic violence and was sentenced in Cass County Circuit Court to two to five years in prison with credit for 206 days already served.

The original incident occurred Jan. 11, 2017 at a residence in Dowagiac. While he was able to complete the Swift and Sure program, he later committed a new criminal offense while still on probation.

Kietzer was also scheduled to be sentenced this week in Berrien County Trial Court for third offense drunk driving.

“Swift and Sure helped me with my problems and this was my first relapse,” he said in court last week. “I made a big mistake and I’m paying for it in Berrien County. I need some help with my problems, I don’t see how prison will help with my alcohol addiction. I’ve been to prison before and it didn’t help.”

“We provided you with tools,” Cass Circuit Judge Mark Herman said. “You didn’t just drink, you were involved in an accident where the vehicle was on fire and your blood alcohol content was .31. We’ve given you these tools and I don’t know what you think we can do for you, some of it has to come from you.”

An Edwardsburg man was sentenced to prison for an assault on the mother of his youngest child.

Michael Hugh Gardner, 38, of North Shore Drive in Edwardsburg, pleaded

guilty to assault intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and was sentenced to 57 months to 10 years in prison. He has credit for 166 days already served and must pay $1,548 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Oct. 17 at a home in Edwardsburg. The victim was punched repeatedly and had numerous injuries. He later threatened her about testifying against him and then assaulted her another time.

“You blamed your actions on your serious drug addiction and I don’t doubt that, but you also have anger problems,” Judge Herman said in court  Friday. “Solving your drug problem is not going to solve your anger issues.”

Kerry Lane Richards, Jr., 42, of Harder Road in Three Rivers, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and was sentenced to 23 months to 10 years in prison, $1,548 in fines and costs and restitution of over $9,300 with another $6,500 pending. He has credit for 89 days already served.

That incident occurred Nov. 7 at the Dussel Greenhouse on M-60 in Cassopolis. He fled the scene after he crashed into the greenhouse and was found a short time later.

Richards also pleaded guilty to second-degree home invasion and was sentenced to 57 months to 15 years in prison. He has credit for 34 days already served and must pay $698 in fines and costs. He pleaded guilty to fourth degree fleeing police and was sentenced to time served and $68 in fines and costs.

That incident occurred Dec. 6 on Brownsville Street in Vandalia. Police responded to an alarm of a break in. Richards fled from police and was later arrested in Elkhart.

“He has been roaring through Southwest Michigan like a wrecking ball,” County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said in court Friday. “He presents a clear and continuing danger to the public … He needs to be taken out of circulation.”