Battle Creek man sent to prison for crime spree

Cress

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 37-year-old Battle Creek man will spend a minimum of the next three years in prison following a local crime spree.

Thomas David Cress, Jr., of 362 Riverside Dr., was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Friday, Oct. 2, in three criminal files.

He was found guilty May 6 of attempted breaking and entering a building with intent and second-offense habitual offender and was sentenced to one year to seven-and-a-half years in prison with credit for 81 days served in jail. Cress was also ordered to pay $4,500 in restitution that is joint and several with co-defendants, along with $258 in fines and costs. One count of breaking and entering a building with intent was dismissed.

In a separate file, Cress was found guilty May 6 of attempted first-degree home invasion; receiving and concealing guns; and second-offense habitual offender. He was sentenced to concurrent terms of one year to seven-and-a-half years in prison for Count I and one to 15 years in prison for Count II with credit for 78 days served in jail. He was also ordered to pay $2,500 restitution and $926 in fines and costs. Counts of first-degree home invasion; felony firearms; and second-degree home invasion were dismissed.

The sentences for the two files run concurrently.

In a third file, Cress was found guilty Sept. 9 of absconding/forfeiting bond and second-offense habitual offender. He was sentenced to two to six years in prison with no jail credit. He was also ordered to pay $858 in fines and costs. A fourth file with same two charges was dismissed in a plea agreement.

The third file runs consecutively to the first two files.