Man who assaulted wedding guests sentenced to jail.

December 9, 2014
Codie Lee Fink, left, with his attorney Norman White.

Codie Lee Fink, left, with his attorney Norman White.

LUDINGTON — A 21-year-old Victory Township man will serve a one-year jail sentence for threatening wedding guests with a rifle. Codie Lee Fink, 21, of 1783 N. U.S. 31, was sentenced today in 51st Circuit Court on two charges of felonious assault charges and a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery.

He was originally charged with five counts including two counts of felonious assault, two counts of felony firearms and one count of assault and battery.

On Nov. 4, during a plea hearing, Fink told the court that he had too much to drink at a wedding reception at Farmview Resort on Sept. 21. He said he became irritated about “something that happened to me.” He later testified that he had been dancing on the dance floor and fell into a pregnant wedding guest. The woman had told police that Fink actually shoved her, thus the assault and battery charge. Fink denied he deliberately shoved the woman. This appeared to be a point of contention with Judge Richard Cooper. However, the prosecution allowed the disagreement.

Fink was taken home, a few miles away, but then returned with a .22 semi automatic long gun. He then returned to the wedding reception and pointed the gun at two male guests, in which he was charged with felonious assault and felony firearms.

Fink accepted a plea agreement from Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola, dropping the felony firearm charges. He also accepted jail time rather than prison. He could have received up to 5 years in prison for felony firearm charges but instead accepted a plea of 1 year in jail, serving 6 months up front and the balance at the court’s discretion. He will also be placed on probation and must avoid contact with any of the victims in the case.

“I would like to apologize to everyone… including my friends and my family,” Fink said.

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