Man sentenced to jail for switchblade, drug possession.

Ricardo Serna with his attorney Ryan Glanville.

Man sentenced to jail for switchblade, drug possession.

#MasonCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 23-year-old Ludington man was sentenced to serve 104 days up front of a one-year discretionary jail term in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Nov. 14, for convictions of possession of a switchblade and possession with intent to deliver alprazolam.

Ricardo Serna, whose address is listed as “homeless” in his court file, was initially facing a felony of blackmail, which was dismissed in a plea agreement.

Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola said Serna was “attempting to collect a debt from an associate at the Indian Summer plant” where Serna worked. He was found in possession of 150 pills in a duffle bag, as well as a switchblade knife.

Serna’s attorney Ryan Glanville said it was not debt owed to his client. Rather, it was for an older accomplice, who was the “ring leader” in the crime.

Serna has a carrying a concealed weapon conviction in Oceana County, and the prosecution has agreed that sentencing in that matter will run concurrently to his Mason County case, his attorney said.

Serna received credit for 96 days served in jail. Following his release from jail, Serna will be placed on GPS monitoring until the trial date for his co-defendant Roberto Mendoza, III, 33, of 6366 E. Minke Rd., Walkerville. Serna is slated to testify at the trial.

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski ordered that Serna serve one and a half years of probation.

Sentencing guidelines In the case are 0-17 months, the judge said.

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