News

Third man sentenced for meth

By NORMA LERNER / Vigilant/Argus
Thursday, August 28, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

CASSOPOLIS - The last of three meth makers who dumped hazardous waste along a roadside ditch in Ontwa Township got time in prison Friday morning in Cass County Circuit Court.

Going to prison for three to 20-years is Shaun Cory, 38, of 70876 Elkhart Road, Edwardsburg. Cory's activities in cooking meth caused a fire, said Frank Machnik, chief assistant prosecutor. Cory received burn injuries. Machnik said Cory has a record of 10 misdemeanor convictions. He asked for 40 months.

Defense Attorney Larry Quigley said Cory understands he continues to have problems but has no prior felonies.

Judge Michael Dodge recounted it was on Jan. 3 when Cory was assisting Charles Biggs, 44, at an Eagle Lake Estates trailer belonging to Janelle Ransom. A fire broke out and Cory left. Others had to clean up the mess and dumped bags of hazardous waste in six locations along North Shore Drive nearby.

Cory's convictions were conspiracy and operating/maintaining a methamphetamine lab. His terms are concurrent. Costs and fines were $630.

Biggs of Cassopolis got 6-to-30 years, and Nicholas Oliver, 21, of Constantine got two years probation plus a 270-day jail term, both for conspiracy and operating/maintaining a meth lab at the site.

Others who were sentenced are as follows:

€ Chad Hall, 35, of 63007 Crooked Creek Road, Cassopolis, received 18 months probation plus 150 days jail for possession of marijuana on July 5 on Michigan-62, Cassopolis. A second offender, his fines and costs were $2,380.

€ Joshua Wilkins, 19, 25978 Hospital St., Cassopolis, received one year in jail for unlawfully driving away an automobile on June 11 and a concurrent 330 days for attempted larceny from a motor vehicle on Yaw Street in Dowagiac. He stole a vehicle from Terry Ausra and removed an audio system. Fines and costs were $180. Restitution was $6,549.09.

€ Brandon Carpenter, 20, of 21875 McCain Lane, Edwardsburg, received two years probation plus 150 days jail for fourth-degree fleeing police on June 25. Fines and costs were $910.

€ Jaun Rivas, 43, 32588 County Road 352, Lawton, received three years probation plus 270 days jail for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, third offense, and a concurrent 90 days jail for attempted resisting/obstructing an officer on April 24 on Marcellus Highway, Marcellus. His blood alcohol level was 0.22 percent. Fines and costs were $1,390 plus $1,440 probation fee.

Print this story   |   Email this story