The person described by the county prosecutor as a “one-man crime spree” will spend the next several years in prison after breaking into three Dowagiac homes in the fall.

Judge Michael Dodge sentenced 20-year-old Brett Adam Gibson, who is listed as homeless by the court, to a minimum of nine years to a maximum of 20 years in prison, during his appearance in Cass County court Friday. Gibson was punished for a single count of first-degree home invasion, two counts of second-degree home invasion and a count of felony firearms.

The man pleaded guilty to the four charges during an appearance in court Sept. 22.

Gibson committed the rash of home invasions over the span of five days in September.

The first occurred on Sept. 7, when Gibson entered a home on Orchard Street in the city, smashing a kitchen window and forcing his way through a doorway, while the owners were out of town. The invader stole 11 firearms, some electronic devices and a collection of vintage baseball trading cards, tearing up the home in the process, Dodge said.

“Fortunately for the home owner, most of the property you had stolen was found in another location and recovered, although they were not in the best of conditions — especially in regard to the firearms,” Dodge said, addressing the defendant in court Friday.

The following day, Gibson invaded a home on Oak Street, ransacking the home and stealing several electronic items. On Sept. 12, Gibson broke into a home on Florence Street, again taking electronics like tablets and laptops, Dodge said.

Police apprehended Gibson shortly after the third break-in, with the defendant admitting to police he had committed the crimes.

Gibson had two prior felony convictions on his record, including for a home invasion crime in Berrien County. He was sentenced to serve a three-year term of probation for the offense in the state’s Swift and Sure program, though he ultimately was ejected after several violations and was sentenced to jail, Dodge said.

“You definitely had opportunities to avoid today, and the consequences of today,” Dodge said.

He was also out on bond for a of unlawfully driving away a vehicle in St. Joseph County, Indiana, at the time of his crime spree, Dodge said.

Given his prior record as well as the impact his thefts had on the victims, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz asked the judge to sentence Gibson to a lengthy stay in prison.

“For this defendant, the phrase ‘the best things in life are free’ is something he needs to understand,” Fitz said. “The things that are free and are good are things like virtue, honesty and morality. He is going to have some time — regardless of his sentence — to consider those things, and study what is right and what is good.”

Gibson’s attorney, Robert Drake, asked the judge to impose a sentence that would take into account the fact his client faced a mandatorily consecutive two-year prison term due to his conviction for felony firearms. Drake also emphasized that Gibson suffered from a troubled childhood, which played a role in his recent rash of criminal behavior.

“There is a difference between someone who has an absolute disregard for the community and our norms and values, and someone, for circumstances outside of their control, never had a chance to learn things like virtue or integrity in a structured, loving, consistent home — all things Gibson was deprived of.”

The defendant declined the opportunity to speak on his own behalf Friday.

Gibson was given credit for 82 days already served behind bars.