By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS -- Lonnie Dean Tolliver is a "is a walking, talking, driving, crime spree," Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz told Judge Michael E. Dodge in Circuit Court Friday morning. he has "felonies inthe double digits.'
Tolliver, 29, of 615 Jefferson St., Elkhart, Ind., went on a high speed chase as he tried to escape from Elkhart County Sheriff's Deputies. He led them into Cass County, where Tolliver eventually left his vehicle and tried to flee on foot. When searched, a bag of meth was found in his pocket.
The judge didn't buy Attorney Dale Blunier's agrument that since it was Dec. 19, 2002, the black stocking cap was merely for warmth. The cap was found with three different sizes of screwdrivers and a flashlight.
Tolliver was sentenced to 365 days in the Cass County Jail, with credit for 216, for possession. He is to pay $60 to the Crime Victims' Fund, a $60 and a $40 state court assessment (for driving on a suspended lisence), and $350 attorney fees. His license was also suspended for 180 days.
In other sentencings:
Three things make this a serious and dangerous offense, Fitz told the court. "First meth was involved, second, the theft of a large number of guns, and third he was working with other people."
Gray helped dispose of stolen property, said Dodge, weighing that others involved actually entered the residence. "You are capable of sabotaging yourself and your life,' Dodge told the young man.
Dodge deviated from the Gray's guidlines of 19 to 38 months and instead sentenced Gray to two years probation and 365 days in the Cass County Jail, with credit for 168 days served. Time can be served a tthe Twin County Program.
He is to pay $960 supervision fees, $60 to the Crime Victims' Fund, two $60 state court assessments, $450 court costs, $350 attorney fees and $3,439.38 restitution.
Conran had been sent to prison by a judge in another county, but the sentence was suspended, Dodge added.
Conran was sentenced by Dodge to two years to 15 years to the Michigan Department of Corrections, with credit for 166 days., to be served concurrently with the other sentence.
He is to pay $60 to the Crime Victims' Fund, and $60 state court assessment.
He was sentenced to 18 months probation and 90 days in the Cass County Jail, with credit for two days served.
He is to pay $40 a month supervision fees, $60 to the Crime Victims' Fund, $60 and a $40 state court assessment, $450 court costs, and $350 attorney fees.
His license was also suspended for 180 days.
He was 19 when he engaged in sexual relations on July 3, 2001, with a then willing15-year-old, who admitted having had relations with two previous partners. He was introduced to her through his wife, Dodge said.
His sentence of 16 months to two years will be concurrent, with 79 days credit.
He is to pay $60 to the Crime Victims' Fund, $60 state court assessment, $450 court costs, and $350 attorney fees.
On March 2, 2003, he was found by a security guard at the Edward Lowe Foundation's Big Rock Valley Farm on Decatur Road in Cassopolis, in possession of a loaded assualt rifle in a moving vehicle.
He was sentenced to 18 months probation.
He is to pay $45 a month supervision fees, $60 to the Crime Victims' Fund, $60 state court assessment, $450 court costs, and $350 attorney fees.