Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CASSOPOLIS — A Niles man found to be in possession of guns and ammunition in Howard Township as a convicted felon was sentenced to jail Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Michael Wade Nikodem, 41, of Pine Lake Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 10 months in jail with credit for three days served and $1,766 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred July 15 in Howard Township. Nikodem also faces related charges in Berrien County and will be sentenced later this month.

Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said that Nikodem could have easily been going to prison Friday with his past criminal record. That record included convictions for armed robbery where he went to prison, home invasion and resisting and obstructing police.

“He’s in his 40s now, he needs to start acting like a man,” he said.

Defense attorney Tat Parish said that Nikodem has had stable work for some time and is a low risk for more criminal activity. He said this incident occurred when his ex-girlfriend turned him in to police.

“He shouldn’t be hammered just for the sake of being hammered,” he said.

“You have to ask yourself which is most important, guns or your children,” said Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman. “We have such a gun culture in this society and with your prior record, you just can’t have one. Your guidelines are prison, you need to thank your attorney for this deal.”

“My concern here is the quantity of guns,” the judge added, noting that police found 21 firearms in total in the vehicle-three of them stolen. “If you had no ill intent, this will probably come back to haunt you. I can guarantee you two things: if I see you back; I will know your children are not priority. If you come back, don’t even use your children as an excuse.”