CASSOPOLIS — A Vandalia man is going to prison after a Cass County Circuit Court jury found him guilty of multiple assault and firearms charges earlier in May.

Justin William Huffman, 28, of E. State Street in Vandalia, was sentenced last Friday to three concurrent terms of 30 months to 20 years for possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon and assault with a dangerous weapon, all as a habitual offender. He has credit for 299 days served on those three sentences.

He also received two concurrent terms of two years in prison for use of firearms in the commission of a felony as a habitual offender. The two-year prison terms are consecutive to the 30-month prison terms. He must pay a total of $1,820 in fines and costs and must forfeit weapons.

The incident occurred Aug. 6 at Huffman’s family’s home on E. State Street. Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman noted that police received multiple reports of gunfire at the home and found Huffman hiding nearby. As a convicted felon, he was not allowed to possess a weapon.

“You have 11 felony convictions with these,” Judge Herman told Huffman. “You need to take a serious look at where you’re headed in life. With your prior record, you’re looking at prison guidelines. I hope you take that into account.”

Huffman’s father spoke before the sentencing.

“I want to let everybody know I do love my son,” he said. “He didn’t try to harm me. He only broke windows. He has three kids, and he needs to be there for them. He’s my best friend.”

“His family clearly cares for him, but he won’t stay away from drugs and dangerous situations,” said Cass County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle Friday. “He needs to get his addiction under control. He’s 28, and he needs to take responsibility for himself. He’s hanging out with dangerous individuals and bringing that into the community.”

Huffman’s past record includes 2016 convictions for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and custodial kidnapping as well as earlier felonies of assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted fleeing a police officer, receiving and concealing stolen property and breaking into a vehicle to steal property.   

In other sentencings:

• A Union man will spend the next seven years in prison after being sentenced on drug charges.

Robert Joseph Crawford, 61, of Guyer Street in Union, pleaded guilty as a habitual offender to delivery/manufacture of meth, possession of meth, possession of firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon and maintaining a drug house.

He was sentenced to seven to 30 years in prison for delivery/manufacture of meth, three terms of three years to 20 years for possession of meth, a firearm and ammunition and credit for time served, 294 days for maintaining a drug house. All sentences are concurrent. He has credit for 294 days served and must pay $1,820.

The incident occurred Aug. 10 at a location on State Line Road in Union. Judge Herman reported that police went to Crawford’s residence and found meth, drug paraphernalia and a weapon.

“You now have 13 felonies,” Judge Herman told Crawford. “Your record goes back to 1976 and it appears you have no intention to change.”

• Harley David Jackson, 38, of Hoyt Drive in Niles, pleaded guilty to resisting and obstructing police as a habitual offender and was sentenced to five months in jail with credit for 123 days already served. He must pay $1,548 in fines and costs. He can serve his jail term in any penal institution.

The incident occurred June 12 at the Four Winds Casino near Dowagiac. He fled from police and was arrested days later in Indiana. He is currently in prison for a January 2019 possession of meth sentence out of Berrien County and also faces charges in Indiana.

• David Westran Marko, 30, of E. Division Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to resisting and obstructing police as a habitual offender and domestic violence and was sentenced to two years’ probation, credit for two days served and $1,798 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Feb. 19 at a home in the 400 block of E. Division Street in Dowagiac.

• George Scott Timm, 49, of High Street in Jones, pleaded guilty to delivery/manufacture of meth as a habitual offender and was sentenced to five years’ probation, credit for 144 days already served, completion of the Swift and Sure program and $2,148 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Jan. 7 on High Street in Jones when police were called to his home.