A rash of thefts at the Indian Lake Hills Golf Course has earned an 18-year-old the next six months in a Cass County jail cell.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Bradley Robert Boersen to 180 days in jail and two years worth of probation during an appearance at the county courthouse in Cassopolis Friday morning. Boersen’s sentencing followed his guilty plea before the court on April 8 and 16 for multiple charges of breaking and entering and larceny in a building.

The thefts in question occurred on July 13 last year and on Jan. 9 this year. On these dates, Boersen broke into the pro shop located on the grounds 27-hole golf course, stealing $1,200 from the building’s safe on his first visit and between $700 and $1,000 his second.

While not present at that morning’s hearing, the victim, whose son was friends with Boersen, asked that the defendant pay nearly $2,000 worth of restitution for his crime, said Cass County Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle.

“She felt like she knew him [Boersen], and he really broke that trust,” Vohwinkle said.

Boersen claimed that the thefts arose from his cocaine addiction, which has led to him not only stealing from his friends’ family, but also his own, Vohwinkle said.

“Obviously he needs to get rid of his addiction,” Vohwinkle said.

These two thefts weren’t the only criminal actions Boersen has committed over the past year. Shortly after his July break-in at the golf course, the man was convicted of larceny of firearm in Berrien County, stemming from his sale of a firearm he stole from an unlocked vehicle in Benton Harbor. Although given probation for the offense, his multiple violations of his sentence landed him with 90 days in jail as punishment.

“As the prosecutor said, you are heading in the wrong direction, and heading pretty quickly in that direction,” Dodge said.

Falling into a so-called “straddle cell,” the judge had the option of either giving the 18-year-old a local jail sentence or time at a Michigan penitentiary. While opting to give the man the former option, Dodge warned Boersen of the troublesome path he was traveling should he continue his criminal ways.

“You’ve racked up a lot of convictions in a big hurry here,” Dodge said. “It is definitely time for you to get things turned around.”

Boersen was given credit for 54 days already served.