CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac youth is going to prison on drug and fleeing police charges after being sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Paris Antonio Garcia, 19, of McOmber Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and fourth-degree fleeing police, both as a habitual offender, and was sentenced to four to 20 years in prison on the meth charge and two to four years in prison on the fleeing count.

The prison terms are concurrent. He must pay $1,616 in fines and costs and $315 in restitution.

The incident occurred April 19 on E. Prairie Ronde and Rudy Road in Dowagiac. Garcia fled from police and struck a pole, injuring the passenger in his car. Police searched the vehicle and found meth and a meth pipe.

“This is your sixth and seventh felony convictions as an adult along with five as a juvenile,” said Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman. “You had just completed a year in jail when this happened.

“The probation department is recommending a year in jail, but I also have to look at protecting the public,” the judge added. “You did not take advantage of the programs available in jail, and I don’t know why you would do it now. My greater concern is that you said you’re not interested in Swift & Sure. That shows you have no desire to change.”

Defense attorney James Miller called Garcia “bright” and “articulate” and having the ability to do well.

Garcia said he fled police because he was scared after just getting out of jail.

In two other prison sentences, area residents were sentenced for breaking and entering a building in 2014 and for a probation violation.

Gregory Lee Carter Jr., 30, of Pokagon Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny and was sentenced to 19 months to 10 years in prison. He has credit for 459 days already served and must pay $1,048 in fines and costs and $267.03 in restitution.

The incident occurred June 3, 2014, at Mantke’s Mini Mart in Dowagiac. Carter and three others broke into the market in the early morning hours and stole cigarettes and liquor, according to records. They broke into Niles area businesses later that day. Carter is currently in prison in connection with the Niles break-ins.

Matthew Ray Strickland, 34, of Howell Drive in Cassopolis, pleaded guilty to a probation violation from a February 2018 possession of meth conviction and was sentenced to two to 15 years in prison. His probation was revoked, and he has credit for 150 days already served.

Strickland had been placed on Swift & Sure Probation in 2018, but violated the probation terms by relapsing and using drugs as well as being dishonest.

Also Friday, a Dowagiac man convicted of meth possession turned down the opportunity to take part in the Swift & Sure Probation program and instead accepted a sentence of a year in the county jail.

Harley D. Jacobs, 21, of Jay Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of meth and was found guilty of another meth possession charge and operating without a license by a Cass County jury July 16 and was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 365 days in jail on the two felony counts.

He has credit for 76 days already served and must pay $2,396 in fines and costs. He was given credit for time served, 76 days, on the no operator’s license charge.

The first possession of meth incident occurred Feb. 28, 2018 on Meadowview Court in Edwardsburg. The second incident occurred Aug. 4, 2018, on North Paul and Spruce streets in Dowagiac.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle said her office opposed a Swift & Sure probation sentence. She said Jacobs had a bad juvenile record with 12 entries and now will not admit he has a problem with drugs.

“I don’t think he’s a good candidate, and he’s not ready to admit he has a problem,” she said. “The juvenile system exhausted every possible way to help him, and he’s continued to commit offenses. I think he is a danger to the public.”

Judge Herman gave Jacobs a choice of a year in jail or a three-year Swift & Sure Probation, and Jacobs chose the year in jail. “I was hoping you’d say you wanted the program and was willing to take advantage of the program even with the threat of prison if you violated,” the judge said.