By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — A 26-year-old man who was hired by an elderly Ludington woman to put a new roof on her house was ordered by Judge Susan K. Sniegowski in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, May 26, to pay back the $14,129 he scammed from her.
Morley
Brennan Todd Morley received a delayed sentence for a conviction of false pretenses $1,000-$20,000. Morley was sentenced to 17 days in jail with credit for 17 days served and 11 months probation, according to court records. He pleaded guilty, April 7.
“The victim was a female homeowner in Ludington in her 70s,” said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand. “She hired the defendant to put a new roof on her home. She gave him various sums of money over the course of the agreement. The defendant failed to use the money provided to complete the project. He took her money under the false pretense that he would do the job he agreed upon.
“The defendant will be required to pay back in full the $14,129 he took from the victim over the next 11 months. If he fails to do so, he will be sentenced on the charged offense of false pretenses $1,000-$20,000, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. If he pays the victim back in full, a felony of attempted false pretenses $1,000-$20,000 will be entered on his record, which carries a penalty of 2.5 years in prison,” explained Hand.
“There are situations such as this where the taking of money to perform services is no longer a civil matter and the contractor faces criminal penalties for their actions, or in this case, lack of action. Fashioning a resolution that accomplishes the goals of sentencing — penalty, rehabilitation and deterrence of others from committing like offenses — can be tricky. If the perpetrator is in custody, then the potential for the victim to be made whole financially greatly diminishes. However, the penalty for the financial loss, stress, and major inconveniences of the victim should not be accomplished simply by writing a check. The delay of sentence and the opportunity for a reduced felony is hoped to accomplish both restitution and punishment.”
Morley pleaded guilty Nov. 24, 2025 to false pretenses $1,000-$20,000 in Mecosta County’s 49th Circuit Court, according to court records. He was sentenced to seven months in jail with credit for two days served and ordered to pay $3,200 in restitution. According to his court file, he has paid $2,250 toward the restitution he owes.
In Mason County, Morley was also sentenced on a probation violation conviction Tuesday, court records state. Judge Sniegowski ordered that he serve 90 days in jail. His probation stems from a Nov. 19, 2024 conviction of third-offense operating while intoxicated, according to court records.
A delayed sentencing hearing in his Mason County false pretenses case is set for April 13.
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