Hart woman pleads guilty to breaking into local businesses.

Candice Lee Fennel with defense attorney David Glancy.

Hart woman pleads guilty to breaking into local businesses.

#MasonCountyCrime.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — A 22-year-old Hart woman faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty today in 51st Circuit Court to two counts of breaking and entering and being a repeat offender.  Candice Lee Fennel was arrested in March by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and arrested for breaking and entering into several businesses in Amber and Pere Marquete townships. She, along with Scott Eric Phelps, 45, also of Hart, was initially charged with safe breaking, four counts of breaking and entering a building with intent, and possession of burglar tools. She was also charged with being a third time habitual offender, which doubles the maximum prison time.

The duo were accused of breaking into Century 21 Bayshore Real Estate, 325 S. Brye Road; State Farm Insurance, 103 N. Jebavy Dr.; the Salvation Army store, 5905 E. US 10; and Orchard Market, 212 S. Pere Marquette Highway.

The plea agreement accounted for the break-in at the Salvation Army Store, where Fennel said in court that the two stole a safe, and Orchard Market, where Fennel said they stole a cash register.

Fennel had been listed with the Michigan Department of Corrections as a bond absconder since March 6, 2018. On Aug. 15, 2016 she was sentenced in 27th Circuit Court in Oceana County to one to four years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in connection to an offense that occurred in Oceana County’s Crystal Township on May 19, 2016. See related story here. On Aug. 8, 2016, she was sentenced in 27th Circuit Court in Newaygo County to one year, seven months to 15 years in prison for home invasion second degree. She was previously convicted on Sept. 21, 2015 for a Feb. 1, 2015 home invasion second degree charge in Newaygo County. She had been sentenced to up to 1.5 years in prison on that charge and was released on Aug. 8, 2016.

When sentenced, her prison term will run concurrent with her other conviction.

Phelps is scheduled to appear in 51st Circuit Court on May 29.

Fennel will be sentenced on Tuesday, June 5 at 2:15 p.m.

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