Sheridan Twp. man sent to jail for B-B gun assault; drug house.

Robert Johnson, left, with attorney Al Swanson Jr.

Sheridan Twp. man sent to jail for B-B gun assault, drug house.

#MasonCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON – A 50-year-old Sheridan Township man was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Nov. 5, to serve seven months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term for convictions of felonious assault, assault and battery, maintaining a drug house and methamphetamine use.

Robert Wayne Johnson, of 6571 E. Sherman St., pleaded guilty to the charges, Oct. 1. Johnson testified that he pointed a B-B gun pistol at a man and a young girl approximately 6 or 7 years old. They were in a car when he pointed to B-B gun at them, said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski.

“You pointed it at a car that had a young child in it,” Judge Sniegowski said. “It is very concerning to the court.”

Johnson previously faced a methamphetamine possession charge and another count of felonious assault, which were dismissed in a plea agreement. Sentencing guidelines in the assault case are 2-17 months and 5-23 months in the meth case, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola. Johnson testified that he maintained a drug house on Washington Avenue in the City of Ludington until his arrest last February.

The felonious assault occurred May 30 in Sherman Township. He said that he pointed the B-B gun at the victims, but did not fire it. “Someone might confuse that for a pistol?” Spaniola asked, and Johnson answered, “Yes.”

Johnson suffers from mental health and substance abuse issues, said his attorney Al Swanson, Jr.

“I apologize for what happened,” Johnson said.

Johnson also sentenced to two years probation. He received credit for six days served in jail.

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