Courts

Teen faces jail for knife assault

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 19-year-old woman pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder/strangulation and assault with a dangerous weapon/felonious assault in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19. Justyce Victoria Gillespie faces a seven-month jail term for the convictions, said Mason County Assistant Prosecutor Beth Hand. The maximum penalty for strangulation is 10…

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Man pleads guilty to shoplifting from Meijer

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 30-year-old man pleaded guilty in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19, to two counts of retail fraud or shoplifting. Sergio Ramon Escamilla faces serving nine months in jail and paying restitution to the Meijer store in Amber Township, according to Mason County Assistant Prosecutor Beth Hand. Escamilla initially faced retail fraud charges in three separate…

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Habitual offender faces prison term for assault convictions

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 44-year-old man faces a minimum of four years in prison after pleading no contest to three assault charges in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19. Christopher Lee Merriman pleaded to charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, second-offense domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and fourth-offense habitual offender.…

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Woman receives delayed sentence for shoe store embezzlement

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 48-year-old woman received a delayed sentence in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19, for a conviction of embezzlement between $1,000 to $20,000. Tanya Renee Oleniczak pleaded guilty to the charge, Jan. 30. If Oleniczak abides by the terms of her probation, she can plead to a reduced misdemeanor charge. Her final sentencing is set for…

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51st Circuit Court sentences, posted March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court: – Joshua Kurt VanDenHeuvel, 40, pleaded guilty Jan. 17 to breaking and entering a building with intent and pleaded guilty Jan. 18 to assaulting/resisting/obstructing police. VanDenHeuvel was sentenced March 12 to six months in jail with credit for 43 days served; three years probation; and $1,266 in…

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