Meth lab, home invasion cases head to trial

Purple

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A Scottville man arrested in connection to a Ludington meth lab on North Harrison Street last May rejected a plea deal offered by the Mason County Prosecutor’s Office during a final conference hearing in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, July 14, and is headed to trial.

Kenneth James Purple, 25, of Scottville, was arrested at a Pentwater Township home by the State Sheriffs Chiefs Enforcement Narcotics Team (SSCENT) and Oceana County Sheriff’s Office deputies on felony charges of operating/maintaining a laboratory involving methamphetamine and delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine.

Purple is currently lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond. Both charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine. Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola said Purple faces double penalties due to second-offense habitual offender status.

The plea deal he was offered included pleading guilty to count one and dismissing count two with a prison sentence of seven to 20 years.
In a separate file, Purple is also charged with second-degree home invasion and larceny from a building, along with fourth-offense habitual offender status.

Purple was offered a prison sentence of 34 months to 15 years if he pleaded to count two with count one being dismissed.

Two trials will be scheduled due to the charges involving two separate matters, Spaniola said.