Recent sentencings in Berrien Trial Court and Cass Circuit Court include several prison sentences for area residents.
The longest prison sentence was imposed in Cass Circuit Court where Elkhart resident William Henderson, 24, was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for second-degree murder. Prosecutor Victor Fitz and defense attorney Greg Feldman had agreed to a plea deal calling for a minimum 30 year sentence in February.
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 when the incident occurred Jan. 11, 2017. Mendez was also an Elkhart resident as well as a native of Puerto Rico.
Henderson’s Cass County sentence is to run concurrent with a firearms violation sentence in Elkhart County. He has credit for 450 days already served.
In Berrien County Trial Court, a former Benton Harbor resident with 51 criminal convictions is going to prison after being caught trying to rob a Blossomland student in downtown Niles.
Bryant Keith Barnett, 48, now of Hickory Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to attempted larceny from a person as a habitual offender and was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court to a term of 18 months to five years in prison. He has credit for 117 days already served and must pay $198 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred Dec. 6 when he went through a young woman’s pockets after she refused to give him money when he approached her at Fifth and Main Streets in Niles. He was also seen approaching cars and banging on car windows.
“You have 51 criminal convictions, that averages out to 3.4 convictions a year,” Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata said. “Your criminal behavior has escalated. Here, you approached and assaulted the victim when she declined to give you money. I’m sending you to prison, this has got to stop. The community deserves to be protected from people like you.”
A homeless man who stole a car and then resisted arrest was sent to prison after his victim made an impassioned plea for a stiff sentence.
Austin Alan Jarman, 20, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of an automobile and
no contest to resisting and obstructing police and was sentenced to 16 to 24 months in prison. He has credit for 57 days already served and must pay $198 in fines and costs and $2,515 in restitution.
The incident occurred Feb. 5 when police stopped Jarman in Niles in a car stolen from Indiana. The car ended up totaled and tools belonging to the victim were stolen and never recovered.
“Not only did he steal my vehicle but the gun that was in the car,” victim Tammy Whitmer said. “I think it’s horrible that young people come in and steal and then brag about it on Facebook. I’m 53 years old and my husband is on disability. I had just sold our camper to pay our utilities and these little punks are walking around and get a slap on a wrist. He thinks it’s a joke.”
“Why do you keep doing this? You don’t care,” LaSata told Jarman. “You’re going to prison. The community is fed up. I can’t send you for life like the victim wants but you have a miserable record of eight adult and five juvenile convictions. Don’t bother to ask for boot camp, I’ll veto it. You’ll be there for the duration, the community needs a break from you.”
Dennis Michael Larrison, 28, of South Bend, was sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison for delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine. He has credit for no time served as he is on parole in Indiana. He must pay $258 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred Feb. 13 when he sold methamphetamine to an undercover police officer at locations near Parkway and Grant Streets in the city of Niles. “You started breaking the law at 13 when you started smoking marijuana,” LaSata said. “… You’re just not using, you’re a drug dealer.”
Michael Lorimer Starrett, 21, of Huntly Road in Niles, was sentenced to 18
months to five years in prison for carrying a concealed weapon. He has credit for 116 days already served. He was given credit for time served for domestic violence against a pregnant individual and operating a car under the influence of a controlled substance.
The incident occurred Dec. 8 when he was found to have a knife in his car on Adams near Stateline Road in Niles Township. He also was accused of assaulting Josephine Barker on the same occasion. A related charge of kidnapping Barker was dismissed.
Gary Lee Leiting, Jr., 23, of Decatur, was sentenced to two concurrent prison terms, one of 14 to 24 months for resisting and obstructing police and one of 14 to 60 months for receiving, concealing or possessing a stolen vehicle. He has credit for 48 days already served.
The incident occurred Feb. 13 when he was found to have marijuana in a stolen car at 15th and Superior Streets in Niles. He also resisted and obstructed Niles police officer Angela Lick.
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