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

     Jimmie Lee Brown, Jr., 64, homeless, pleaded guilty to larceny $1,000 to $20,000 and possession of narcotics/cocaine and was sentenced to 14 months to five years in prison on the larceny case and a concurrent 180 days in jail on the drug charge. He has credit for 89 days served and must pay $396 in fines and costs.

     The incidents occurred July 18 and Aug. 21 in Niles.

     Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Kate Arnold noted that Brown took an electric bike in broad daylight in the larceny case. “He’s been coming into court for a long time,” she said. “We’ve tried everything with him including probation and local jail sentences. He thinks he can do whatever he wants.”

     Berrien County Trial Court Judge Jennifer Smith said that the court had tried to give Brown services in the past and it hadn’t resulted in any change in his behavior. “You continue to commit crimes no matter the sentence we give you,” she said. “You have a terrible record. Hopefully you will choose to stop committing crimes when you get out.”

     Choyer M. Goodlow, 42, of Niles, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics/cocaine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and maintaining a drug house and was sentenced to 12 months to five years in prison on the firearm charge and credit for 70 days served on the other two charges. He must pay $334 in fines and costs.

     The incident occurred Aug. 20 in Niles.

     Arnold noted that Goodlow has been selling drugs since 2007 and has been given an ample number of opportunities in the past. She asked that Goodlow not be given a Swift & Sure probation.

     Defense attorney Shayne Williams said she thought Goodlow would benefit from a probation sentence. She noted that he has been working and has a stable place to live. Goodlow said he was not a bad person.

     Judge Smith said that Goodlow continues to commit crimes even after a number of opportunities on probation and noted that the drug charge in the case was originally for drug trafficking.

     “What I can’t overlook is the fact you had a firearm when you couldn’t,” she said. “That is certainly troublesome when someone is saying they are trying to do better. You clearly made a choice to engage in this behavior.”