Serial drug offender sentenced to prison
Published 8:59 am Monday, December 16, 2019
CASSOPOLIS – A Cassopolis man is going to prison on drug charges after a Cass County Circuit Court jury convicted him earlier this fall.
Richard Daniel Williams, 38, of Calvin Hill Street in Cassopolis, was convicted in October of delivery/manufacture of meth, conspiracy to deliver/manufacture meth, possession of meth and maintaining a drug house — all as a habitual offender.
Friday, Williams was sentenced to two concurrent terms of seven to 30 years in prison on the delivery/manufacture charges and credit for time served, 223 days, on the other two charges. He must pay $1,752 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred May 4 when police executed a search warrant at Williams’ home in Calvin Township and discovered six bags of meth, syringes, scales, pipes, packing materials and other drug-related items.
Williams’ co-defendant, Ashley Friske, was sentenced in October to probation and credit for time served on conspiracy to delivery/manufacture of controlled substances, delivery/manufacture of controlled substances and maintaining a drug house charges.
Cass County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Hubbert asked Cass County Trial Judge Mark Herman to take Williams’ past record into consideration.
“This is not his first conviction for delivering drugs,” he said. “It’s clear from the facts presented at trial that he was directly involved in the drug deliveries going on.
“Friske acknowledged that he was part of the conspiracy,” he added. “He was involved in packaging the drugs, and he’d also call people to come to the house. I don’t believe he’s been honest about his involvement. His statements go against the evidence. He has earned a prison term.”
Defense attorney James Miller asked for leniency including a possible probation sentence so Williams could get treatment for his addiction.
Judge Herman noted that Williams’ past assaultive record as well as the fact that he has not acknowledged his guilt preclude him from taking part in drug treatment probation programs.
Williams told the judge that he is not a drug dealer.
“I apologize for getting involved in drug activity,” he said. “I have a disease that requires treatment. My children need me in their lives. I ask for a second chance at a new life and to get the tools I need to prove all that I can be.”
Judge Herman noted that Williams has 11 convictions, numerous probation violations and a warrant out for his arrest in Indiana.
“You’ve been using drugs since before your eight children were born,” he said. “I appreciate that addiction is more of a disease than a crime, but your guidelines are substantial and call for prison.”
In another sentencing, an Edwardsburg man was given probation and ordered to register as a sex offender.
Jonathan Christopher Graves, 35, of Edwardsburg, pleaded no contest to possession of child sexually abusive materials and was sentenced to five years’ probation, credit for one day served and $2,358 in fines and costs.
He must register as a sex offender, not live or work with any child under age 17 and not work within 1,000 feet of a school or 500 feet of a park.
The incidents occurred in 2017 and 2018 at a residence in Edwardsburg when he placed a cell phone in a bathroom to film a 13-year-old girl.
“This is clearly very concerning behavior,” Hubbert said.
Judge Herman agreed, saying that such behavior “is one of the biggest violations of trust a man can undertake.”
A Vandalia man was sentenced to probation and payment of fines and costs and restitution for assaulting a relative.
Denard Ramon Croom, 42, of Fox Street in Vandalia, pleaded no contest to aggravated assault and was sentenced to 10 months’ probation, $300 in fines and costs and $15,260.13 in restitution.
The incident occurred Aug. 25, 2018 at a residence on Fox Street. The victim and Croom’s attorney gave differing statements about the incident. The victim said the incident had destroyed him physically, mentally and financially.
Attorney Edwin Johnson said the victim lied to police and had pushed Croom who then inadvertently broke Evans’ leg.
Also, Benjamin Joseph-Lyle Griner, 31, of Old 119 in Marcellus, pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, credit for two days served and $1,938 in fines and costs.
The incident occurred June 1 on Dutch Settlement Road near Marcellus. The handgun was found by police during a traffic stop. The gun turned out to be stolen from White Pigeon in 2003. Griner bought the gun in South Bend in 2010.
Jennifer Kay Dean, 41, of Marcellus, pleaded guilty to welfare fraud-failure to inform $500 or more and was sentenced to five years’ probation, $1,898 in fines and costs and $9,117.85 in restitution. The fraud occurred between November 2014 and December 2018 in Cass County.
Kelly Lynn Jacks, 41, of Burton Road in Niles, had a charge of breaking and entering a building with intent to commit larceny dismissed after successfully completing a one-year probation under a deferred sentencing program. Jacks said she learned to be a better person and set goals. The incident occurred in April 2018 at a property in Howard Township.