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CASSOPOLIS — A Niles man with a long criminal record is going back to prison after being sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Ricky Dean Oliver, 60, of East U.S. 12, Niles, pleaded guilty to delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine and was sentenced to three to 20 years in prison. He has credit for 416 days already served and must pay $1,548 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Jan. 17, 2023 after a traffic stop in Dowagiac. The sentencing was delayed in November when Cass County Circuit Judge Mark Herman refused to go along with a plea agreement that would have sentenced Oliver to probation with no additional jail.

Oliver also pleaded guilty to a probation violation from a 2019 case and had his probation revoked. He was given credit for 587 days served in that case.

“You’re 60 years old and you’ve spent the last 30 years basically in the criminal justice system, a lot of it behind bars,” Judge Herman said. He noted that Oliver had had the chance to complete both Swift and Sure and Adult Treatment Court programs and has continued to be arrested for criminal offenses.

He pointed out that Indiana had suspended a prison sentence in 2019 so Oliver could complete the ATC program and now has an extradition warrant out to bring him back to Indiana to serve that prison sentence.

“You have had the benefit of two programs and even with the programs, here we are again,” the judge said. “You even threw away your chance to not have an Indiana prison sentence.”

“You’re old enough to know that actions have consequences and Lord knows we have tried to get you to change,” he added. “You already have the tools, just another program isn’t going to make the difference. It’s up to you to step up to the plate. People who have helped you in the past will be there when you get out of prison.”

“Until you learn to care about the destruction drugs have caused in your life and your children’s, no program is going to make a dent in you,” he said. “You’re no dummy, you earned a bachelor’s degree in prison, you served in the military. You do do a lot of good for people, that’s why it’s hard to sentence you … You’re not a bad person, you just continue to make bad choices.”