COURT NEWS UPDATE

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent

NILES – Two area residents convicted of breaking and entering and weapons charges were sentenced to prison last week in Berrien County Trial Court.

Seth Torrese Lipscomb, 52, of Niles, was found guilty of breaking and entering a building with intent to

commit larceny as a habitual offender at a jury trial earlier this year and was sentenced last week to 60 months to 30 years in prison. He must pay $198 in fines and costs.

The sentencing had been delayed twice this summer when questions came up about past charges and convictions in Illinois.

He has credit for no time served as he was on parole at the time of the incident and this sentence will be consecutive to any sentence he gets for violating his parole. He was sentenced March 22, 2020 to 19 months in prison for a similar offense of breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny.

The incident in the current case occurred Oct. 12, 2022 when he broke into an apartment building on North 17th Street in Niles and stole money out of a coin operated washing machine and a coin operated dryer.

Lipscomb was also ordered to pay $4,537.35 in restitution for damage to the washer and dryer after a restitution hearing held just prior to the sentencing. Building owner Anthony Sergio testified about the cost of repairing the machines as did a repairman.

Lipscomb continued to maintain his innocence in remarks before the sentencing. He acknowledged that he has a long criminal record but denied committing this crime. “Today I stand before you as an innocent man,” he told Berrien County Trial Judge Jennifer Smith.

Defense attorney Peter Johnson asked for a lower sentence. He noted that Lipscomb is employed, has the support of his family and goes to church. He pointed out that Lipscomb has been in jail for nearly 11 months and will get no credit for that due to being on parole.

Assistant Prosecutor Kate Arnold asked for a sentence of 76 months in prison which is at the top end of the guidelines. “This is what he does, he breaks into apartment buildings and laundry rooms, he is a repeat offender,” she said.

Judge Smith said she didn’t have any reason to disagree with the jury’s verdict. “This is your history and it’s pretty clear that it was you on the video,” she said. “You may not think it is a big deal to take coins out of a machine but it is a big deal for the people who rely on that money for income.”

A Buchanan man is also going to prison for firing a firearm at a building in Buchanan.

Westley Paul Allen Gollon, 20, of Buchanan, pleaded guilty to discharging a weapon at a building and was sentenced to 24 months to 10 years in prison. He has credit for 149 days served and must pay $198 in fines and costs. His weapon was forfeited.

The incident occurred March 31 in Buchanan.

Defense attorney James Jesse said Gollon had a tough childhood. “He had a very tough time growing up,” he said. “I’m only asking for some leniency. He knows what he did. It’s a sad situation.”

Arnold recognized Gollon’s family situation growing up but said the court has given him opportunities on probation in the past and he continues to violate.

Gollon apologized to the Buchanan Police Department for his actions. He said he wants to take responsibility and go back to school.

“I don’t doubt what Mr. Jesse said but the fact is that we gave you an opportunity,” Judge Smith said. “This was a very serious matter, you could have hurt or killed someone and you were on bond when this happened. It’s important for you to address your issues.”

-30-