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Edwardsburg man sent to prison for making meth

By NORMA LERNER / Vigilant/Argus
Thursday, October 9, 2008 11:15 AM EDT

CASSOPOLIS - An Edwardsburg man will spend two to 20 years in prison for operating a methamphetamine lab and possessing meth and marijuana.

Matthew Morningstar, 35, of 69022 South Shore Drive, was sentenced Friday morning in Cass County Circuit Court and said he has no one to blame but himself.

During his sentencing hearing, defense Attorney R. McKinley Elliott said Morningstar is confident his behavior will not happen again. "He acknowledged what he did."

Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle argued for three to 20 years saying there was numerous lab items found and that he had been selling meth.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge recounted it was April 29 when the Southwest Michigan Enforcement Team went to Morningstar's residence on a tip about making meth. Found were marijuana and meth making components. Dodge said this is Morningstar's first felony conviction and that he has been struggling with substance abuse for several years.

Police said he sometimes sold meth for $125 for 1.75 grams. Now all of your problems have come down hard, he said. "I hope you get your life straightened out. If not, it will be more harsh."

Morningstar received credit for time served of 86 days for possession of the drugs. His fines and costs totaled $675.

Going to prison is Atrell Hagler, 20, of 2525 Bonds St., South Bend, Ind. for armed robbery and felony firearm in Niles on Nov. 28, 2007.

Hagler entered Lenny's Marathon Mini Mart on Michigan-60, Niles, on Nov. 28. He was carrying a handgun and wearing a mask. He ordered the attendant to open the cash register and then struck him with the gun. He then demanded the key to the safe, opened it and took out the money.

After leaving the store and driving away, a witness began to follow Hagler. He stopped his car and fired shots toward the witness and left.

He was arrested two days later by South Bend police who noticed his Ford Bronco. Police found him to be driving on a suspended license and found his gun plus some narcotics. There was also some dried blood in the vehicle.

Dodge gave him 108 months to 20 years as agreed to in a plea agreement for the armed robbery and a consecutive two years for carrying the firearm in Cass County Circuit Court on Friday morning.

His fines and costs were $630.

A third felon will see prison bars, Marshall Murray, 46, of 69369 Cassopolis Road, Edwardsburg.

On Aug. 23, the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team arrived at the Murray residence on complaints and found him and two companions with a large meth lab. There were 35 gas generators and other components.

Based on a past record, Dodge said he deserved a substantial prison sentence before he imposed eight to 20 years each for operating a lab with hazardous waste and operating a meth lab and three to 10 years for possession of meth.

He got credit for time served of 43 days for possession of marijuana.

His fines and costs totaled $735.

In other sentencings Friday:

€ Elliott Huss, 46, of Marcellus received three years probation plus 125 days in jail for possession of methamphetamine on April 4 plus credit for time served of 52 days each for possession of analogues and possession of marijuana on North Street in Marcellus.

Defense Attorney James Miller pleaded that Huss is working two jobs of take care of himself. He needs to correct his substance abuse issues, he said.

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at his residence and found prescription pills, meth and marijuana substances.

"You continue to have problems," Dodge said, before imposing fines and costs of $1,620.

€ Lola Rock, 66, of 1950 South 13th St., Niles, received two years probation for two counts of forgery and credit for time served of one day for offense of forgery and 50 hours of community service for cashing fraudulent checks on April 15.

Rock was taking care of an elderly man on Park Drive, Niles, and stole some checks from his checkbook and cashed over $3,000 worth of bad checks.

Dodge told her this was out of character for her. She apologized saying, "I know it was wrong."

Her fines and costs were $1,230.

€ Jacob Fuson, 18, of 745 Colony Court, Niles, received 18 months probation for stealing items at the George Holt automotive parts store on Terminal Road, Niles, on April 18.

Fuson drove his pickup truck through a hole in the fence to steal the metal items and then sold them for scrap for $147.20. Dodge said he has a high school diploma and is attending Southwestern Michigan College.

"It was a poor decision on your part and out of character for you," he added.

He is to attend the Holmes Youthful Training Program. His fines and costs were $850 plus $147.20 restitution. If Fuson completes the training program, no criminal conviction will be entered on his record.

€ Clifford McKnight, 45, of 19521 Mt. Zion St., Cassopolis, got 150 days and got two years of probation for third-offense domestic violence on July 28 on Wade Road, Cassopolis.

McNight assaulted a woman he was living with and slapped her around and began to choke her. She became lightheaded and her ears began ringing, Dodge said. McKnight was intoxicated and said it was his third offense.

He suspended his jail time for one year to see if he complies with his probation terms. Dodge said not to let this happen again before imposing fines and costs of $1,880.

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