CASSOPOLIS — An Elkhart man who broke into an Edwardsburg home and stole a van last year is going to prison after being sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Jeffery Clinch, 36, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty earlier to second-degree home invasion and was sentenced Friday to four years, nine months to 15 years in prison. He has credit for 160 days already served and must pay $1,608 in fines and costs as well as $688.44 in restitution.

Clinch also pleaded guilty to unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle and was given credit for time served and ordered to pay $68.

Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman noted that the incident occurred between June 29 and July 1 last year when Clinch broke into a home on Old M-205 near Edwardsburg and ransacked it. He went back later and stole the homeowners’ van. He then committed a similar crime a few days later in Indiana.

Both Judge Herman and Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz expressed concern over threats Clinch made against the police officer who arrested him in Indiana.

“He made disturbing statements that he would have killed the police officer and other threatening statements,” Fitz said. “At age 36, he’s not changing his ways. A few days after this, he committed a similar crime in Indiana.”

“You were apprehended in Indiana and denied that there was a gun in the van,” Judge Herman said. “You said that if you had known there was a gun in the van, you would have shot the b**** cop who stopped you between the eyes.”

“I believe when you talk like that, you should be sentenced at the high end of the guidelines,” the judge added. “They say that talk is cheap. For you, talk is expensive.”

In other sentencings, area residents were sentenced to probation on drug and theft charges.

• Michael Lee Maze, 33, of Peru, Indiana, pleaded guilty to attempted uttering and publishing and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, credit for 15 days already served, $576.78 in restitution and $1,438 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred more than a year ago on Jan. 24, 2018, at the Harding’s Market in Dowagiac when Maze tried to cash six counterfeit checks. He also tried to cash counterfeit checks at other locations including Northside Liquor in Dowagiac.

• Charles Hammond, 33, of Edwards Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, credit for 13 days already served and $2,228 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Nov. 1 at a home on Edwards Street in Dowagiac. Police searched the home and discovered meth and meth pipes.

• Matthew Schoemann, 49, of North Shore Drive in Edwardsburg, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, credit for 15 days already served and $2,228 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Feb. 7 when police stopped Schoemann in Ontwa Township.

Judge Herman noted that Schoemann told police that he had been a meth addict for 19 years.