Man skips sentencing, warrant issued

Cress

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — Thomas David Cress, 36, of Battle Creek, who was scheduled for sentencing for home invasion Tuesday, June 9, in 51st Circuit Court, did not appear, and Judge Jeffrey Nellis revoked his bond and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

“I don’t know of his current whereabouts,” his attorney, Al Swanson, Jr., said.

An elderly man, who is a retired Warren police officer, addressed the court during victim allocution. “I would like to see that justice is done,” the man said. “He broke into my house two times. I would like see him suffer like I did.”

The man stated that Cress stole several items from his home and pole barn while he was away during the winter months, including a rifle in his closet.

“Every time I went to look for something, it was gone,” he said. “I’d like to see the appropriate punishment — not a slap on the wrist but something substantial,” he told the judge.