COURT NEWS UPDATE

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent

This week’s court news includes sentencings and the arraignment of a St. Joseph man on murder charges in connection with the 2016 death of a two year old girl.

Lance Aaron Reeves, 46, of Pearl Street in St. Joseph, was arraigned

late last week in Cass County District Court on open murder and three child abuse charges. He faces a pre-exam conference next week on Jan. 17 and a preliminary hearing on Jan. 23.

The incident occurred more than two years ago, on Oct. 19, 2016, in Silver Creek Township near Dowagiac. Reeves is accused of causing the death of a two year old girl who had multiple contusions and a severed spine at the time of her death. Published reports indicate there was another incident earlier in 2016 where he was seen shaking the girl.

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz reported the incident was investigated by the Michigan State Police’s Niles post with charges authorized Dec. 21. Reeves was arrested Jan. 3 at a residence near Hartford.

Reeves faces a maximum penalty of life in prison on the murder charge, 10 years in prison on two second-degree child abuse charges and two years in prison on a third-degree child abuse charge. He remains in the Cass County Jail after District Judge Stacey Rentfrow denied bond.

In a sentencing last week in Cass Circuit Court, an Edwardsburg man was sentenced to prison after being caught in possession of a firearm as a felon.

Daltin Lee Bice, 24, of 3rd Street in Edwardsburg, was sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to three to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm as a habitual offender. He must pay fines and costs of $1,198.

He has credit for no time served as he was on parole at the time of the incident. The three year prison term he received Friday is consecutive to any prison he receives from violating his parole from twelve 2013 convictions. He was convicted in 2013 of safebreaking, larceny over $20,000, breaking and entering and other charges.

The current incident occurred Oct. 15 at a location in the 15000 block of U.S. 12 near Union. Police were called when Bice and another individual got into a fight. Bice left and returned with a gun which he pointed at the other person. The loaded gun was taken away from him and thrown onto U.S. 12. Bice fled the scene but was later arrested.

“Sadly at age 24, he is someone the public needs to be protected from,” Fitz said. “In this incident, he had a gun pointed at a person’s chest and it could have resulted in murder. I’m heartened that the defendant has asked for forgiveness, but I would remind him that the road to hell is paved with good intentions and that actions speak louder than words.”

In Berrien County Trial Court this week, two Niles area men were sentenced to prison.

Alan Michael Rosetto, 41, of Fulkerson Road in Niles, pleaded guilty to

third-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to 35 months to 15 years in prison. He has credit for 68 days already served and must pay $258 in fines and costs. He must register as a sex offender.

The incidents occurred between Dec. 1, 2017 and Jan. 31, 2018 against a 13 year old girl at a residence in Niles Township.

Assistant Prosecutor Jerry Vigansky called it a “despicable” case. “There’s not much I can say, this is another despicable case,” he said. “He’s taken no responsibility and blames the 13 year old victim. He’s a menace to society and he needs to be put away.”

Rosetto stood by his statements although he did apologize. He noted that he is totally disabled from a spinal injury and would only say he was a “participant” in the incidents.

Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata said a 13 year old cannot give consent to any kind of sexual activity. “You cannot be a participant, you are a rapist,” he said.

Judge LaSata also sentenced Brad Edwin Ralston to prison after Ralston pleaded guilty to fourth-degree fleeing and eluding police.

 

Ralston, 42, of Bell Road in Niles, was sentenced to 12 to 24 months in prison. He has credit for 25 days served and must pay $198 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Sept. 12 on Old 31 near Ullery Road in northern Niles Township. Ralston was clocked as going 118 miles per hour in Berrien County and over 90 miles per hour when he crossed over into Cass County.

“This is a very troubling situation, you severely endangered the public with your ridiculous criminal behavior,” Judge LaSata said. “You’re going to prison. It’s a miracle someone didn’t get hurt.”