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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — A 31-year-old former Mason County man was sentenced to 14 months to four years in prison for a conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, March 9.
Cody Morgan Denton threatened two Oceana County sheriff’s deputies with a hatchet and two knives, said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon.
“On Sept. 3, 2024, then-deputy-now-sergeant Jeremy Swihart and deputy Owen McGuigan of the Oceana County Sheriff’s office went to 365 E. Washington Rd. in Crystal Township to arrest Cody Denton on an existing parole warrant,” said Prosecutor Bizon. “They found Mr. Denton in a back room huddled in a corner. As they interacted with Denton, he threatened the officers with a hatchet and two knives. Fortunately, the two officers involved were able to use all of their skills and neither officer was injured.”
Denton pleaded no contest to the charge, Feb. 9. A second count of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing police were dismissed.
Denton had previously been sentenced to prison June 12, 2018 in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court for convictions of second-offense breaking and entering and second-offense larceny of firearms. Denton, who was 23 years old at the time, had already amassed an extensive criminal record.
He was on parole for the Mason County criminal case when he committed the assault in Oceana County. His sentence will run consecutively to any parole violations he receives.
Denton and co-defendant Stacy Marie Green, who was 35 years old at the time, stole a handgun and money from Quinn’s Towing in Mason County’s Amber Township.
Denton has served previous prison terms for narcotic/cocaine possession, home invasion, breaking and entering and delivery/manufacture of marijuana, according to Michigan Department of Corrections records.
He has nine prior felony convictions and nine prior misdemeanors, said Bizon.
“By law his sentence will run consecutively to any parole sanction,” said Bizon. “As such, he has received no jail credit since being lodged in jail on Sept. 3, 2024.”
The delay in bringing the case to a conclusion was caused by “serious and legitimate questions regarding the defendant’s competence to face charges,” said the prosecutor. “The Center for Forensic Psychology was able to assist and get us to a place where we could proceed.”
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