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CASSOPOLIS – Several area residents were sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court on drug and other charges. 

Mark Tusing, 50, of South Bend, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamines and was sentenced to 23 months to 10 years in prison. He has credit for 177 days served and must pay $1,548 in fines and costs. 

The incident occurred Feb. 16 at the Four Winds Casino in Dowagiac. Tusing had been banned from all Four Winds properties and police were called when he showed up at the casino. A search of his car found meth. 

Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman noted that Tusing has a 27 year “criminal association” with drugs and has previously been incarcerated and received treatment. “You’re 50 years old and you would think you would be ready to put drugs behind you,” he said. 

“You were offered the opportunity to be in the Adult Treatment Court program and you said you weren’t interested,” the judge added. “You don’t appear to have any real desire to get the benefits of probation.” 

A Goshen man will be spending more time in jail for possession of heroin. 

Michael McKee, 40, of Goshen, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin as a habitual offender and drunk driving. He was sentenced to two years probation and 150 days in jail with credit for 52 days served for the heroin charge and 93 days in jail with credit for 52 days served. He must pay a total of $2,878 in fines and costs. 

The incident occurred May 26, 2020 on U.S. 12 east of Edwardsburg. 

Judge Herman noted that he gave McKee additional time in jail because McKee had initially “snubbed his nose” at court officials in two states by failing to appear for court hearings.

In other sentencings: 

• Joseph Abiney II, 57, of New York Avenue in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and was sentenced to 12 months probation, credit for 19 days served and $1,908 in fines and costs. The incident occurred May 3, 2021 in Edwardsburg. 
• Yahaira Munoz, 39, of Edwardsburg, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and possession of analogues and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for 3 days served and $2,408 in fines and costs. The incident occurred Nov. 22, 2020 in Edwardsburg. 
• Charles Poole, 35, of Benton Harbor, pleaded guilty to third offense drunk driving and was sentenced to three years probation in the Swift & Sure Sanctions Probation, completion of the Twin County probation program, credit for 117 days served, $2,718 and license revocation. The incident occurred Nov. 21, 2020 in Dowagiac. His blood alcohol level was .273, more than three times the legal limit.