Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NILES — A contractor was sentenced to probation Monday in Berrien County Trial Court after not completing a renovation job he was paid for.

      Robert Stephen Jernigan, 69, of Niles, pleaded guilty to larceny by conversion $1,000 to $20,000 and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for two days served, $258 in fines and costs and $11,100 in restitution.

      The incident occurred June 12, 2023 in Bertrand Township.

       Defense attorney Daniel French noted that Jernigan had serious health problems including lung cancer that kept him from finishing the job.

“He took the contracting job and he anticipated completing it before he got sick,” French said. “He admits he took the money, he’s very sorry for his actions.”

“I’m sorry for what happened, I didn’t plan for it to happen,” Jernigan said. “Hopefully I will be able to get back to work. I’m on a fixed income and I don’t have enough to cover what is owed. I’m trying to get well so I can get back to work.”

“I empathize that you have issues to overcome but she’s out a lot of money,” said Judge Gordon Hosbein. “You didn’t do the work and didn’t give back the money. I have to be sympathetic to the victim.”

Hosbein agreed with French that requiring Jernigan to pay restitution as part of his probation could be a “recipe for a disaster” and a probation violation but said it could also be a motivator for Jernigan to pay the money back.

“Too often we lose track of the victim who is out a lot of money,” he added.

Jernigan was ordered to pay $100 a month in restitution for a few months until he can go back to work and earn more money so that the restitution can be paid off in two years.

      In other sentencings:

• Christopher Allen Boyce, 35, of Niles, pleaded guilty to two counts of larceny in a building and was sentenced to nine months in jail and $366 in fines and costs. He has no credit for time served as he is on parole. The incident occurred June 23, 2024 in Niles Township.
• Christopher Allen Hidalgo, 35, of Constantine, pleaded guilty to domestic violence and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for three days served, 90 days tether and $525 in fines and costs. The incident occurred Aug. 7, 2024 in Niles.
• Zachary Tyler Mishler, 24, pleaded guilty to domestic violence and was sentenced to one year probation, 50 days in jail with credit for one day served and $400 in fines and costs. The incident occurred June 19, 2024 in Niles.
• Matthew Anthony Onik, 25, of Galien, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to credit for 76 days served and $943 in fines, costs and restitution. The incident occurred Aug. 23, 2024 in Galien.