Illegal immigrant receives less jail so deportation process can begin

Carlos Lopez with his attorney, David Glancy.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 23-year-old illegal Mexican immigrant who was living in Ludington at the time of his arrest for assaulting/resisting/obstructing police last August was sentenced to 73 days up front of a one-year discretionary jail term in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Carlos Martin Lopez, whose address in his court file is listed as 512 E. Danaher St., has remained lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $25,000/cash/surety bond.

Lopez’s attorney, David Glancy, requested that Judge Susan K. Sniegowski consider imposing a sentence of time served with a hold until immigration officials pick him up, so he “can get those proceedings underway.”

Lopez’s plea agreement called for serving four months up front, but in light of his impending deportation, Sniegowski allowed a sentence of time served.

Lopez was on bond for the same charge of resisting police at the time he committed the most recent offense, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.

Lopez said he needed to “get going on the next chapter in my life. I’m really sick, and I don’t know what’s wrong with me. That would be 23 days of not being able to do anything about my health condition.”

Lopez was also ordered to serve 18 months probation, and will be discharged from probation when he is deported.

He will be transferred to an immigration intake area at the Calhoun County Jail until he is deported to Mexico.