CASSOPOLIS — A man who was convicted earlier this year of driving a lawnmower drunk has been sentenced to jail time.

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman sentenced Steven Michael Bakeman, 32, of the 28000 block of Middle Crossing Road in Dowagiac, to 18 months probation and 120 days in Cass County Jail for a third offense of drunk driving.

The charges stem from events that took place on June 11, 2017, in Dowagiac. On the night of Bakeman’s arrest, police responded to a 911 call indicating that Bakeman had threatened to shoot a friend following an argument.

Police found Bakeman driving his lawnmower down the road from his home with the lights off at night. Upon being stopped, Bakeman said that he was looking for his children to give them a ride home. He also admitted to drinking four 24-ounce “Natty Ice” beers and multiple liquor shots.

Testimony elicited during trial from Assistant Prosecutor Karl Boersma indicated that Bakeman was unable to complete the roadside field sobriety tests.

At the time of his arrest, Bakeman’s blood alcohol level registered at .28. The legal limit in Michigan is .08. The arrest marked Bakeman’s third drunk driving offense.

Bakeman was convicted by a jury of the charges on Feb. 27.

Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle said she was disturbed by details in the presentence investigation report that indicated that Bakeman had anger issues, such as the fact that he reportedly threatened a friend and scared children who witnessed the events leading up to him drunk driving his lawnmower. Because of these details, she recommended that Bakeman serve a lengthy probation sentence with monitoring of his drinking.

“The concern here is the defendant’s drinking mixed with his anger,” Vohwinkle said.

Bakeman’s attorney James Miller said that Bakeman has been sober since his arrest and that he is working to turn his life around.

“He is a young man, and I believe he can overcome this if he is given the proper guidance,” Miller said of Bakeman.

At sentencing, Bakeman confirmed this, saying that he has already begun to make changes in his life.

“I want to apologize to everyone involved,” Bakeman said.

Judge Herman said he was glad to hear Bakeman was both making changes in his life and that he has a good employment history. However, Herman indicated that Bakeman still has a long road ahead of him.

“You have three children who, in the court’s opinion, you are not setting a good example for,” Herman told Bakeman. “You need to learn to make them a priority in your life instead of alcohol.”

In the end, Herman sentenced Bakeman to 18 months of probation and 120 days in Cass County Jail. Herman said that it was mandated by law that Bakeman spend 30 days in Cass County Jail, but that he may spend the remaining 90 days on SCRAM tether, which monitors alcohol consumption.