Branch Township man sentenced to 7-30 years in prison for meth.

James Kelsey

Branch Township man sentenced to 7-30 years in prison for meth.

#MasonCountyCourtNews

By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 36-year-old Branch Township man was sentenced to seven to 30 years in prison Tuesday, Sept. 26, in 51st Circuit Court for a conviction of operating maintaining a lab involving hazardous waste and third-offense habitual offender.

James Alexander Kelsey, of 7077 E. US 10, was arrested last April by the State, Sheriffs, Chiefs Enforcement Narcotics Team (SSCENT) on felony charges of delivering a controlled substance, operating/maintaining a meth lab, operating/maintaining a laboratory involving hazardous waste and fourth-offense habitual offender. The other charges were dismissed in a plea agreement.

Sentencing guidelines in the case were 51-127 months, said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola.

Kelsey’s attorney, David Glancy, said his client was extremely cooperative with authorities during the investigation. Glancy asked Judge Susan K. Sniegowski to consider a lesser sentence than the recommended seven to 30 year term, but the judge did not agree.

Kelsey had the “knowledge and experience to manufacture meth” among several other co-defendants, she said.

Kelsey has four felony and 10 misdemeanor convictions, the judge said.

He received credit for 175 days served in jail.

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