Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NILES — Two area men were sentenced to prison Monday in Berrien County Trial Court at the Niles courthouse.

     Richard Romeo Hill, Jr., 32, of Benton Harbor, pleaded guilty to third-degree fleeing and eluding and was sentenced to 14 months to five years in prison. He has credit for 144 days already served and must pay $198 in fines and costs.

     The incident occurred April 16 in Niles Township. His sentence can be served in any penal institution as he is also facing charges for violating his probation from an Indiana sentence.

     Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Jerry Vigansky said that Hill’s record speaks for itself, while defense attorney Angela Easterday noted that Hill has struggled with alcohol and mental health issues.

     “He got new medications in jail and different programs,” Easterday said. “He understands he needs to change his life. We’re asking for a one year jail sentence or a Swift & Sure probation so he can participate in in mental health and drug treatment programs.”

     For his part, Hills apologized to the court and took full responsibility for his actions. He said he has been struggling with mental health issues.

     “Your record is terrible,” Berrien County Trial Court Judge Jennifer Smith said. “I have to consider the protection of the community whether you take responsibility for your own sake. You had fleeing and eluding convictions in 2009 and 2021 and here we go again with another fleeing and eluding.”

     “I’m happy if you are addressing your issues with medications but that doesn’t cancel out your behavior which put police and the public at risk. At age 32, you’re very young to have this record. You were on probation in Indiana when you committed this crime. I’m not sure what good it would do to put you on probation when you continue to violate and put the community in danger.”

     Earl Edwood Watts, 38, of Benton Harbor, pleaded guilty to second offense possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 14 months to 20 years in prison with credit for 18 days served. He must pay $198 in fines and costs.

     The incident occurred July 29 in Niles. This sentence is concurrent with a 365 day jail sentence from a probation violation from a meth conviction earlier this year.

     Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Kate Arnold noted that Watts was on probation in drug treatment court when this incident occurred. “He was found with a large amount of drugs in this incident and has an extensive record of drugs and assaultive crimes.”

     Watts apologized and said he had made “real bad choices”. “I don’t have an excuse, I messed up,” he said.

     Judge Smith said that giving him another probation sentence made no sense since he was on a drug court probation when he committed this crime. “Drug court probation is the last chance to take advantage of local programs and you have not shown a willingness to do so,” she said.

     “At some point, you have to figure out where the bottom is,” she added. “Here you had a decent amount of meth.”