Free Soil man sentenced to jail for car theft.

July 18, 2017

Alkus O’Conner with his attorney, David Glancy.

Free Soil man sentenced to jail for car theft.

#MasonCountyCourtNews

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 42-year-old Free Soil Township man was sentenced to serve six months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, July 18, for a car theft conviction and fourth-offense habitual offender.

Alkus Charles Danny O’Conner, of 10331 N. Stephens Rd., was arrested last February by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

“Mr. O’Conner has a propensity of taking motor vehicles that belong to his family members,” said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola. O’Conner has a significant “mental health history,” the prosecutor said, but he was found competent to stand trial. O’Conner suffers from bi-polar disorder and other mental health diagnoses, along with a morphine addition and issues with alcohol abuse, Spaniola said.

O’Conner’s attorney, David Glancy said his client’s “lengthy mental health history goes hand-in-hand with his criminal history.” He needs supervision, Glancy said, and has successfully completed probation before. Probation provides “additional motivation to comply with mental health services and medication. Most of his offenses occur when he suffers from sort of mental break.”

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski said she agreed with both the prosecution and the defense and ordered that O’Conner serve five years probation.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 0-22 months, the judge said.

O’Conner received credit for 154 days already served in jail.

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