Two people who broke into a Niles tanning salon were sent to prison Monday.

Christopher Williams, 24, of Niles and Samantha Johnson, 25, of Niles Township were both sentenced at the Berrien County Courthouse in Niles following their arrests in January for charges of breaking-and-entering, a 10-year felony.

Both Williams and Johnson were convicted of breaking-and-entering in regard to the incident earlier this year at Tans Down Under in Niles.

Prosecutor Steve Pierangeli told the court he felt a prison sentence would be appropriate for Williams, who he said had several prior convictions in both Indiana and Michigan.

Williams expressed his remorse to the court and to the owner of Tans Down Under, Stefani Heide.

“I’d like to first of all apologize to the owner of Tans Down Under for my foolishness,” Williams said.

He added he hoped to get his punishment over with as soon as possible in order to get home to his family.

“You’ve packed a lot of crime into the few years of your adult life,” Schofield told the defendant, referring to Williams’ prior convictions.

Through his sentence, the judge added, Williams would “have an opportunity to do better” with parole and as a responsible father.

“You are not much of a man if you’re not there for your family,” Schofield said. “You’re not much of a man if you’re not providing for your family… You’ve got to be the kind of man you want your son to grow up to be.”

Williams was sentenced to a minimum of 18 months and maximum of 120 months in the Michigan Department of Corrections, with credit for 55 days along with state and court fees and costs and restitution estimated in the amount of $262.

Appearing a short time after Williams, Schofield sentenced Johnson to time behind bars as well.

Pierangeli described Johnson as being “out of control with her criminal activity in the last two-and-a-half years,” citing eight or nine prior convictions in that time alone.

In addition to breaking-and-entering, Johnson had been convicted previously of credit card fraud, a four-year felony.

The prosecutor also said Johnson had been “playing games” with police, refusing to take responsibility for her crimes until police could present evidence in the form of photographs or security camera footage.

Johnson did offer her apologies to the court and Heide, as well as to her family, becoming emotional as she stood before Schofield.

“I’d like to say I’m really sorry for the things I’ve done,” Johnson said. “I’ve hurt a lot of people because of it.”

Johnson told the court she hoped to be allowed to go home on probation.

“Ms. Johnson you have been here in court — a lot,” Schofield said. “It was my hope that you would learn something … to make better choices.”

That was something, the judge said, Johnson hadn’t done.

She was sentenced to a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 120 months with the department of corrections and would receive a recommendation to take part in the state’s Special Alternative Incarceration “boot camp” program.

Williams had been deemed ineligible for the program.

“(You have) an opportunity and the challenge, Miss Johnson, of blazing a new trail for yourself,” Schofield said.

Johnson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,024, along with court fees and costs.