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CASSOPOLIS — An Elkhart woman who broke into an unoccupied home in Edwardsburg last year was given the chance to stay out of prison.

Amy Grace Evans, 38, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty to second-degree home invasion and was sentenced to three years probation in the Cass County Mental Health Court program, credit for 217 days served and $2,628 in fines and costs. Restitution could be ordered in the future.

      The incident occurred June 1, 2024 in Edwardsburg. Evans and another woman broke into a home and stole some items before stealing a vehicle. They were caught on video and arrested a day later with the vehicle and items taken from the home.

      Defense attorney Nicholas Hogue said that Evans was stealing items to support her drug habit. He said she spent her time in jail working to get a handle on her drug addiction. “She wasn’t sitting there learning how to be a better criminal, but making her recovery a priority,” he said.

      “When you get an opportunity like this, if you don’t take it seriously, you know the prosecutor will be asking for prison and the court will more likely to go to the higher end of the guidelines,” said Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman. “At this point, you may end up looking at three years in prison if you violate your probation.”

      “You are working on your high school diploma and you said you want to go to college, take care of your family and go to church,” he added. “None of those things are going to happen if you continue to use drugs. You can’t have drugs and kids, they’re mutually exclusive. If you want to be there for your children, drugs can’t be part of your life.”