CASSOPOLIS — A Cassopolis man who had sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl he met on Facebook is going to prison.

Marcus Derrell Marshall, 24, of Chain Lake Street in Cassopolis, pleaded guilty to attempted third degree criminal sexual conduct as a habitual offender and was sentenced Friday in Cass Circuit Court to three to seven and a half years in prison.

He has credit for 84 days already served and must pay $1,048 in fines and costs. He must also register as a sex offender.

The incidents occurred over a week in March at a home in Jefferson Township when he met the 14-year-old girl at her home while her parents were away.

“The defendant contacted her on Facebook and came to her home when her parents were gone,” said County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. “She’s just a vulnerable kid. Twenty-four and 14 is not a good formula. He was predatory and took advantage of a vulnerable young child.”

“This has changed her life forever, all because he was trolling the Internet to find a target,” Fitz added. “It has changed her personality and had a ripple effect on her siblings.”

Cass Circuit Judge Mark Herman also spoke of the damage the situation had inflicted on the victim.

“You gave her a STD. She’s depressed and cut herself and received counseling,” he said.

In a separate case, a Niles man was sentenced for his part in a New Year’s Day burglary of a Dowagiac area home. His co-defendant, Debra Deanne McDaniel, also of Niles, was sentenced to prison earlier this month.

Michael Charles Hatch, 45, of North 14th Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree home invasion, larceny of firearms and larceny in a building and was sentenced to three years of probation, 365 days in jail and restitution of nearly $27,000. He has credit for 36 days already served.

The incident occurred Jan. 1 at a home on Wilbur Hill Road near Dowagiac when Hatch and McDaniel broke in while the owners were out of town. They took weapons, a chainsaw, jewelry and a vehicle and were caught when the owners recognized McDaniel, who they had hired to clean the house in the past, on the surveillance tape.

Hatch’s sentence was less than McDaniel’s, as he cooperated with police. Friday, defense attorney Lanny Fisher noted that his client had written a letter of apology to the homeowners. Hatch also apologized in court for his actions.

“I’m sorry for what I did that day,” he said.

Judge Herman accepted the plea agreement but said it left “a bad taste” in his mouth and insisted that the sentence include probationary supervision.

“I want you to be monitored so you can address your drug problem,” he told Hatch. “If you violate, you will go to prison.”

The judge noted that Hatch has had a substance abuse problem for 30 years. Prosecutors noted during McDaniel’s sentencing that she has a meth addiction and that the two sold the stolen items to obtain money to buy drugs.

A Dowagiac man who stole a television from his parents was given jail and probation following an impassioned plea from his mother in court Friday.

Jeromy Donald Northrup, 31, of Glenwood Road in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to larceny in a building as a habitual offender and was sentenced to two years of probation, 214 days in jail, $1,788 in fines and costs and $1,400 in restitution. He has credit for 94 days already served and can spend the rest of his jail term in the Twin County Program.

The incident occurred April 29 at his family’s home when his parents were out of town. He stole a television and tried to break into a safe. He left a note saying he was sorry and later turned himself in.

Nancy Northrop said the situation had been hard for the family to see her son battle his drug addiction.

“He’s made poor choices,” she said. “It’s hard for parents to see and the entire family will do anything we can to help him recover.”

“We filed charges to get him here. He needs to get clean,” she added. “He needs to realize his potential or on the other side he’ll be gone and I don’t want him gone.”

Fitz noted that Northrop must make changes himself.

“You can bring the drug addict to the program, but we can’t make him do it,” he said. “None of us can be his savior. He has to do it himself … He’s 31 and he needs to start being a man.”

Herman agreed.

“We can only offer help, you have to want it,” he told Northrop. “We can’t make you change. The fact that you turned yourself in maybe indicates that you’re ready to change.”