79th District Court sentencings

79th District Court sentencings

By Alan Neushwander, Contributing Writer.

LUDINGTON — The following were recently sentenced in Mason County’s 79th District Court:

-Kenneth Michael Rocco, 64, of 2968 N. George Ln., Hamlin Township, pleaded guilty June 27 to operating a motor vehicle while impaired by liquor (OWIL) and was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; must attend victim’s impact panel; must complete alcohol highway safety education; and $870 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to Secretary of State (SOS).

-Otto Robert Schultz, 79, of 1407 E. US 10, Custer Township, pleaded no contest June 27 to second-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) and was sentenced to eight days in jail with credit for eight days served; one year discretionary jail for one year; no drugs/alcohol; subject to random PBTs and $1,530 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS.

-Harley Boone Sheldon, 23, of 4689 N. Sherman Rd., Hamlin Township, pleaded guilty June 27 to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to 75 days in jail with credit for 44 days served; one year discretionary jail for one year; no drugs/alcohol; must seek and maintain employment; and $535 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS. A charge of disorderly person – prowling was dismissed.

-Jace Allen Vigansky, 20, of 210 N. Lavinia St., Apt. 4, Ludington, pleaded guilty June 20 to operating with a blood alcohol level between .02 to .07 as a minor and was sentenced to one year of probation; must attend victim’s impact panel; no drugs/alcohol; subject to random PBTs and drug tests; must obtain substance abuse counseling; and $775 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS. Charges of OWI and minor in possession of alcohol were dismissed.

-Melinda Ann VanderZanden, 33, of 86 N. Michigan Ave., Shelby, pleaded guilty June 20 to second-degree retail fraud and was sentenced to 94 days in jail with credit for four days served; one year discretionary jail for one year; no drugs/alcohol; subject to random PBTs and drug tests; $835.67 in restitution; and $665 in fines/costs.

-Christopher Douglas Gachter, 33, of 2672 S. Derby Rd., Sidney, Michigan, pleaded guilty June 27 to driving while license suspended (DWLS) and was sentenced to 21 days in jail with credit for 21 days served; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; and $285 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS. Charges of operating with a forged/altered driver’s license were dismissed.

-David Bryan Cohen, 33, of 5921 W. Baseline Rd., Mears, pleaded guilty June 20 to third-degree retail fraud and was sentenced to 93 days discretionary jail for one year and $535 in fines/costs.

-Roger William Potter, 47, of 2209 Kent Blvd., Grand Rapids, pleaded guilty June 20 to OWIL and carrying a concealing weapon while intoxicated. He was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; must attend victim’s impact panel; no drugs/alcohol; subject to random PBTs; must complete alcohol highway safety education; concealed weapons permit forfeited for three years; must forfeit the weapon to the state; and $1,095 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS.

-Joshua Robert Steven Smith, 21, of 505 Fifth St., Apt. 2, Ludington, pleaded guilty June 20 to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served; one year discretionary jail for one year; no drugs/alcohol; subject to random PBTs and drug tests; driver’s license suspended for 180 days and restricted for 150 days; and $665 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS.

-Tyler Donald Bender, 32, of 5921 Baseline Rd., Mears, pleaded guilty June 20 to third-degree retail fraud and was sentenced to 93 days discretionary jail for one year and $535 in fines/costs.

-William Leland Sirks, 68, of 3812 W. Pine View Ct., Ludington, pleaded guilty June 20 to OWIL and was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served; 93 days discretionary jail for one year; must attend victim’s impact panel; no drugs/alcohol; subject to random PBTs; must obtain substance abuse counseling; and $870 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS.

-Michael Lee Oszust, 41, of 2927 Lena Dr., Hamlin Township, pleaded guilty June 13 to second-offense OWI and was sentenced to 34 days in jail with credit for four days served; one year discretionary jail for two years; no drugs/alcohol; must attend victim’s impact panel; Soberlink in automobile for one year; subject to random PBTs; vehicle used in offense must be immobilized or forfeited; two years of probation; and $1,660 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS. A charge of DWLS was dismissed.

-Julie Ann Martin, 40, of 4068 E. Church St., Fountain, pleaded guilty June 26 to illegal disposal of solid waste and was sentenced to pay $185 in fines/costs.

-Jonah Thomas Howell, 23, of 2893 N. Tuttle Rd., Sherman Township, pleaded guilty June 23 to allowing a person to drive in violation of the motor vehicle code and was sentenced to pay $335 in fines/costs.

-Rodolfo Nava, 21, of 2337 E. Monroe Rd, Hart, pleaded guilty June 23 to failure to display a valid driver’s license and was sentenced to pay $275 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS.

-Nicholas Edwin Bytwerk, 19, of 7020 W. Fox Rd., Mears, pleaded guilty June 23 to failure to display a valid driver’s license and was sentenced to pay $275 in fines/costs. Conviction is reportable to SOS.

Dismissals

-Denton Robert Dietz, 33, of 128 W. State St., Scottville, had a charge of possession of analogues dismissed without prejudice on June 15. According to court records, “The people cannot prove the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.”