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CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man facing sentencing next month in Berrien County was sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to a year in jail.

Jessie Stanley Stanford, 24, of East Division Street in Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine as a habitual offender and was sentenced to 365 days in jail with credit for 32 days served and $1,548 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Aug. 15, 2023 in Dowagiac when a search of his home found meth and a weapon.

Stanford was given a concurrent 365 day jail term for violating his probation from a 2021 conviction for possession of meth and possession of heroin. He has credit for 115 days served in that case.

He can serve the jail terms in any penal institution. He faces charges of attempted resisting and obstructing police and use of meth in Berrien County where he is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 16.

Drake said Stanford has an “absolutely devastating” addiction issue and his offenses reflect that addiction. He noted that Stanford has done well on probation and completed treatment programs in the past but then has gone back to using drugs when he’s off probation.

“I know I don’t have the right to come into court with what I’ve done, but I want to apologize to the court,” he said. “I’m disgusted with me, I just want to get this behind me. I’m 24 years old, it’s time to be a grown man. I’m ready to stop with the drugs.”

“I’m not disgusted with you,” Judge Herman said. “I just hope you can get yourself straightened around. I understand addiction, I want what you want for yourself. I’d love nothing more than see you make changes … If anything disgusts me is that why when you have the tools, you don’t contact somebody to help when you get to the point you want to use.”