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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
Herndon
LUDINGTON — A 44-year-old Scottville man was sentenced to consecutive prison terms for convictions of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, second-degree child abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon and malicious use of a telecommunications device Tuesday, Sept. 1, in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court.
Michael Reece Herndon pleaded no contest to the charges, July 1.
Herndon was initially charged with a dozen criminal counts in two separate files.
He was sentenced Tuesday to a minimum of 34 months in prison with a maximum of 10 years in one file and four years in his other criminal file. He received credit for 162 days served in jail.
“The defendant was arrested and charged with placing his two youngest children in fear of being shot,” said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand. “He was attempting to manipulate his ex-wife into coming over and used his children as pawns in the process. He threatened her that if she did not comply, that he would harm the children. The children heard this conversation and saw the weapon as he took a picture to send it to his ex-wife.
“After charges were filed in that matter, abuse against one of his other daughters was disclosed in the course of her attempt to deal with the trauma caused that evening. It became apparent that the abuse had been a pattern. This daughter allocuted at sentencing and explained the emotional torment inflicted upon her by her father. The mother’s statement was also placed on the record. This man, instead of protecting his family, terrorized them. The resolution in this case includes a no contact order with the children and their mother. He is not to come within 500 feet of their residence or her place of employment.
“The plea avoided subjecting these young children to the additional trauma of testifying against their father—a man they now feared. The family can hopefully find closure and continue healing.”
Herndon pleaded guilty in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Dec. 9, 2024 to a felony count of attempted assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and was sentenced Feb. 10, 2025 to three days in jail with credit for three days served and two years probation.
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