79th District Court sentencings and dismissals.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in 79th District Court:

– Thomas Tommy-Teague Noa, 31, of 1218 S. Madison Ave., Ludington, was found guilty Jan. 12 of two counts of attempted assaulting/resisting/obstructing police. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail; one year discretionary jail for two years; must have Soberlink installed upon release from jail; $1,245 in fines and costs; must attend AA three times a week for two years; must have a substance abuse evaluation and follow recommendations; no alcohol/drugs; and subject to random preliminary breath tests (PBTs). One count of trespassing was dismissed.

– Jade Lucile Oquist, 19, of 118 E. Danaher St., Ludington, was found guilty Jan. 12 of use of marijuana and sentenced to 43 days in jail with credit for 43 days served; driver’s license suspended 180 days/restricted after 30 days; 90 days discretionary jail for one year; and $225 in fines and costs. In a separate file, Oquist was found guilty Jan. 12 of third-degree retail fraud and sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; $665 in fines and costs; and must seek and maintain employment. In a third file, she was found guilty Jan. 12 of third-degree retail fraud and sentenced to two days in jail with credit for tow days served; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; and $285 in fines and costs. All three sentences require that she must comply with the terms of her circuit court probation.

– Daniel James Ruble, 44, of 13598 Makinen Rd., Kaleva, was found guilty Jan. 12 of assault and battery. He was sentenced to 93 days in jail with credit for 93 days served; 93 days discretionary jail for two years; and no contact with the victim. Sentence runs concurrently with time served in the Manistee County Jail.

– Nicholas Gene Helfrich, 26, of 201 E. Filer St., Ludington, was found guilty Jan. 13 of impaired driving. He was sentenced to 17 days in jail with credit for 17 days served; $510 in fines and costs; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; no alcohol/drugs; must follow recommendations of his parole agent; $510 in fines and costs; and subject to random PBTs. Conviction reportable to the Secretary of State (SOS).

– Daniel Villanueva, 29, of 142 S. Wildwood Trail, Apt. 13, Amber Township, was found guilty Jan. 12 of operating while impaired. He was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served; $870 in fines and costs; Alcohol Highway Safety Education (AHSE); 93 days discretionary jail for one year; must attend the next session of the Victims’ Impact Panel (VIP); no alcohol/drugs; and subject to random PBTs. Conviction reportable to SOS. One count of operating with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .17 or more was dismissed.

– Joseph Benjamin TerHaar, 29, of 3160 N. Amber Rd., Victory Township, was found guilty Jan. 12 of possession of marijuana; improper transport of medical marijuana; and improper plates. He sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for two days served; $920 in fines and costs; driver’s license suspended one year/restricted after 30 days; one year discretionary jail for one year for count 1; 93 days discretionary jail for one year for count 2; 90 days discretionary jail for one year for count 3. All counts are concurrent. One count of failure to display a valid license and one count of failure to maintain security/no insurance were dismissed.

– Trenton Louis Balavitch, 24, of 5536 Pontaluna Rd., Fruitport, was found guilty Jan.12 of operating while impaired. He was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served; $870 fines and costs; outpatient treatment – substance abuse counseling deemed completed; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; no alcohol/drugs; and subject to random PBTs. Conviction reportable to SOS. One count of refusing the PBT was dismissed.

– Robert Dave Rex II, 31, of 8677 Beaver St., Alto, Mich., was found guilty Jan. 12 of counterfeiting. He was sentenced to $795 in fines and costs; 90 days discretionary jail for one year; and the items seized are ordered forfeited. One count of delivery/possession of property/services with counterfeit identification mark was dismissed.

– Rafael Segundo Ortiz, 20, of 401 E. State St., Apt. 3, Scottville, was found guilty Jan. 12 of possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served; one year discretionary jail for one year; must abide by circuit court probation; random drug testing; and $295 in fines and costs. Conviction reportable to SOS.

– Deven Benson Garcia, 20, of 3816 N. Tuttle Rd., Sherman Township, was found guilty Jan. 12 of possession of marijuana and third-offense minor in possession of alcohol (MIP). He was sentenced to one day in jai with credit for one day served; driver’s license suspended 180 days/restricted after 30 days; $985 in fines and costs. one year discretionary jail for two years for count 1; 60 days discretionary jail for two years; must obtain Soberlink for one year; must have a substance abuse evaluation and follow recommendations; and must submit to a benchmark drug test. One count of violating a restricted license was dismissed.

– John Carl Grech, 27, of 7380 M 116, Hamlin Township, was found guilty Jan. 13 of open intoxicants in motor vehicle – passenger. He was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served; $265 in fines and costs; 30 days discretionary jail for one year; no alcohol/drugs; subject to random PBTs and drug tests; and $265 in fines and costs.

– Russell John Masse, 52, of 602 E. Melendy St., Ludington, was found guilty Jan. 5 of driving while license suspended (DWLS). He was sentenced to 35 days in jail with credit for 35 days served; $535 in fines and costs; and one year discretionary jail for one year. Conviction reportable to SOS.

– David Wayne Verschueren II, 22, of 3602 E. Madison Rd., Walkerville, was found guilty Jan. 5 of no insurance and sentenced to $455 in fines and costs and one year discretionary jail for six months. Conviction reportable to SOS.

– William Lawrence Miketa, 55, of 602 E. Loomis St., Ludington, was found guilty Jan. 5 of third-degree retail fraud. He was sentenced to 93 days discretionary jail for one year; $602.50 in fines, costs and restitution or 60 hours of community service within four months; no alcohol/drugs; and subject to random PBTs.

– Willis Ray Stewart, 56, of 9553 N. Stephens Rd., Free Soil Township, was found guilty Jan. 7 of taking deer without a license. He was sentenced to 30 days discretionary jail for one year; $2,250 in fines and costs – must make payments of $50 per month; and loss of hunting privileges 2016-2018. In a separate file, he was found guilty Jan. 7 of using/loaning a kill tag to another and sentenced to 30 days discretionary jail for one year; loss of hunting privileges 2016-2018; and $250 in fines and costs – must make monthly payments of $50 per month.

Dismissals

– Danyell Rebecca Horsley, 28, of 143 N. Jebavy Dr., Apt. 13, Pere Marquette Township, one count of receiving and concealing stolen property less than $200 was dismissed Jan. 12. “Matter cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” according to court records.

– Reenya Bilal-Clinton Burrell, 34, of 410 S. Washington Ave., #1, Ludington, one count of domestic violence and one count of breaking and entering – illegal entry were dismissed Jan. 12. “Illegal entry cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” court records state.
– Michelle Marie Drabenstott, 47, of 715 N. Rowe St., #1, Ludington, one count of assault and battery was dismissed Jan. 15. “The ends of justice do not require further prosecution of this matter,” court records state.

– Magee Monroe Johnson, 37, of 806 N. Lakeview St., Ludington, one count of DWLS was dismissed Jan. 15. “The interests of justice do not require further prosecution of this matter,” court records state.