By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
Court news comes this week in a number of areas, including sentencings and a preliminary hearing. In addition, news has just now been reported that a Niles area man charged with the attempted murder of his estranged wife has died.
The Benton Harbor man who was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List before his
capture in Georgia in July is headed to trial after a preliminary hearing last week in St. Joseph.
Antwan Mims, 40, faces two counts of first-degree murder along with three other firearm related charges. He is charged in the March 25 incident in Benton Harbor which left Cortez Miller and Michael Johnson dead. A trial is scheduled to start Jan. 29 before Berrien County Trial Judge Arthur Cotter.
Police testified at the hearing that Mims said that Miller had a gun in his waistband and he got into a confrontation with both men outside a party at a friend’s home and shot them. No gun was found at the scene and Mims told police he threw his gun away in Ohio on his way south.
Another high profile case has ended after the man accused died in late August. James Lampson, 56, had faced 10 charges in Cass County Circuit Court including attempted murder in connection with the Jan. 23 shooting of his estranged wife, Jennifer, at his Howard Township home.
Cass County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle confirmed that Lampson had died Aug. 31 and that all charges against him had been dismissed. He had been free on bond at the time of his death and was waiting to have a forensic examination conducted.
Lampson was originally set to go to trial in July but that had been delayed after the forensic exam was ordered. His attorney, Lanny Fisher of Buchanan, asked for the forensic examination to be done to see if Lampson was competent to stand trial and could be held criminally responsible for his actions.
Fisher said he wasn’t sure if Lampson’s death was due to a suicide, an accident or natural causes. He said police told him that there were no signs of foul play.
In sentencings, a Niles youth who brought a prescription drug to the Cedar Lane alternative high school in Niles will have the chance to keep the felony off his record.
Justin Chase Cooper, 18, of North 11th Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to possession/delivery of a narcotic and was sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Training Act to two years probation, seven days in jail and $838 in fines and costs. If he is successful, the felony will be kept off his record.
The incident occurred May 18 at the Cedar Lane school on Niles-Buchanan Road when he was found with the drug, Vyvanse.
“Be careful on probation,” Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata said. “This is a great opportunity for you. I have a sentencing philosophy that places like schools and churches are sacred. I am going to give you jail time since this occurred in a school but will also give you HYTA.”
A Buchanan man who hit his father with a shovel is staying in jail. Brandon Thomas Fadder, 20, of South Oak Street in Buchanan, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 180 days in jail. He has credit for 62 days already served and can spend the last 90 days on tether.
The incident occurred Aug. 8 at a residence on South Oak Street in Buchanan.
“You’re a 20 year old man with a pretty checkered history,” LaSata said. “I think you can do this if you set your mind to it, but if you fail you could go to prison … I think you’re and you hang around with the wrong people.”
A Cassopolis man who broke into a Niles area pole barn was sentenced to a year in jail.
Dustin Douglas Pascoe, 41, of East South Street in Cassopolis, pleaded guilty to breaking
and entering a building with intent to commit larceny as a habitual offender and was sentenced to 365 days in jail with credit for 27 days served. He must pay $1,048 in fines and costs and $1,223.18 in restitution.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 15, 2017 at a property on Anderson Road in Milton Township near Niles. Items taken included electric blades for a saw and a door was damaged. Pascoe was arrested after his DNA was found on a glove dropped in the driveway of the property.
“You’re 41 years old and this is your 32nd criminal conviction,” Cass Circuit Judge Mark Herman said. “You’ve spent a fair amount of your adult life in jail or prison … I don’t know if you can teach an old dog new tricks.”
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