Repeat car thief sent to prison

Susan Lewis with her attorney, David Glancy.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 50-year-old Manistee woman was sentenced to two to 20 years in a Michigan Department of Corrections prison for a felony conviction of unlawful driving away of an automobile (UDAA) and a misdemeanor of second-offense operating while impaired in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, June 2.

Susan Kay Lewis pleaded guilty to the charges last month. She was arrested last February by the Michigan State Police after stealing a vehicle in Manistee County and then operating while intoxicated on US-10 in Amber Township, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola. She also pleaded guilty to fourth-offense habitual offender.

This is her seventh felony conviction, Spaniola said, and her third time drinking and driving with a stolen vehicle.

“She did the very same thing in Grand Traverse County and was apprehended in Oceana County in 2012,” the prosecutor said. She committed the same crime in 2005 in Manistee County, he said. “This the third go-around Ms. Lewis has had with someone else’s car,” Spaniola said. Lewis had recently been discharged from parole prior to the most recent incident, he added.

Sentencing guidelines are 10-46 months, Spaniola said, and he recommended a two to 20 year prison term, which was imposed.

“She realizes that she needs to address this matter,” said her attorney David Glancy. “She has always had issues with drugs and alcohol due to depression. She needs to get it under control, so we are not here again.”

Judge Susan Sniegowski said Lewis’ criminal history dates back to 1988. The judge gave her credit for 101 days already served in jail. She sentenced her to a concurrent term for the drunk driving conviction of 101 days in jail with credit for 101 days served.