Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NILES — Devonte Quayshon Allen, 31, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty to attempted larceny under false pretenses $1,000 to $20,000 and was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for 26 days served and $4,888 in fines, costs and restitution.

The incident occurred Sept. 21, 2018 at a business in Niles Township. He has been in jail, prison or probation for much of the time since then.

Defense attorney Shayne Williams noted that Allen committed this type of crime in several jurisdictions in Indiana as well as here in Michigan and has served time in jail, prison and on house arrest probation. He currently has more cases to settle in LaPorte County and elsewhere in Indiana.

Allen apologized for his actions and said his past is catching up to him.

“I’m working at Goodwill now, but I wish I could go back and change what I did,” he said.

Berrien County Trial Judge Jennifer Smith noted that Allen’s past record included 13 felony and 13 misdemeanor convictions.

“This was not all about youthful indiscretions,” she said. “You have had to answer for some of your criminal behavior in Indiana but I just can’t give you a pass here. You stole a lot of money from the victim when you went on your fraud spree.”

“You have had different opportunities and sanctions over the years and it hasn’t stopped your criminal behavior,” she added. “Obviously it is catching up with you as it should. I think further incarceration is appropriate although you have served time in Indiana.”