Habitual offender faces prison term for gun possession

Gary Rial with his attorney, Douglas Stevenson.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 63-year-old Victory Township man is looking at a 16-month to 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Aug. 11, to felony firearm possession and fourth-offense habitual offender.

Gary Edwin Rial, of 7065 N. Dennis Rd., was arrested last June by Mason County Sheriff’s Office and is currently lodged in the Mason County Jail. The conviction stems from a March 11 incident in Victory Township when Rial, a convicted felon, was in possession of a rifle, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.

The maximum penalty for the conviction is five years, said Judge Susan Sniegowski, but Rial’s habitual offender status elevates the maximum sentence to life in prison.

Rial has a long rap sheet, dating back to the early 1970s, which includes convictions of vulnerable adult abuse; attempted larceny; receiving and concealing stolen property; and attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct, Spaniola said.

Rial’s pending sentence will run concurrent to probation violation charge, the prosecutor said.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 22 at 2:30 p.m.