CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man with 25 offenses already on his criminal record was sent to prison for his latest run-in with the law.

James Wright, 39, was sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to seven to 40 years in prison for operating a methamphetamine lab involving hazardous waste.

“Mr. Wright is a detriment and danger to himself and society,” said Prosecutor Victor Fitz, pointing out Wright’s extensive criminal history, which includes domestic violence, breaking and entering, felonious assault, resisting and obstructing a police officer and drug activity.

What makes the offense worse, according to Fitz, was the fact he was producing the drug in a populated area.

“It’s bad enough when it is in rural areas, but to bring it into an urban area in close proximity to buildings and businesses of law-abiding citizens (is worse),” Fitz said. “Right now we need to be protected from him.”

Judge Michael Dodge said Wright was within 500 feet of a residence when he was cooking the meth and dumped some of the hazardous waste in the Sister Lakes area.

Defense attorney Greg Feldman pointed to his client’s mental health problems he has been battling for years.

“At the time of the offense, he was off his medication for some time,” Feldman said.

Wright pleaded ignorance about the danger of meth activity.

“I never realized how serious this was,” he said. “I had been playing with this stuff for six months. I wasn’t sure how dangerous this stuff was. I wasn’t selling it to kids. I was just using it for myself.”

Wright also apologized to the court.

“I realize what I did is wrong,” he said.

Wright will receive credit for 94 days already served.