By AARON MUELLER

Edwardsburg Argus

CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac teenager is heading to jail for a violent outburst in January.

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Michael Dodge sentenced Tyler Dean, 17, to 120 days in the Cass County Jail with credit for two days served.

The sentencing was for an incident in January when Dean arrived at his home to find the door locked. He became angry, according to Dodge, and smashed the glass door open with a rubber hammer.

He then turned his rage on his mother, Anne Dean, and his sister, assaulting them both and threatening to kill his mother. When Cass County Sheriff deputies arrived at the scene, Dean resisted them, cussing at them, headbutting one of them and biting another in the hand.

After Dean was injured, he began spitting blood at the officers. One officer’s ribs were injured in the assault.

“He should be ashamed of himself,” prosecutor Victor Fitz said, “assaulting his mother, who put a roof over his head, put food on the table, who bathed him as a child. He was telling her he wanted to kill her. A mother should never have to hear that.”

Dean’s mother remains supportive of her son and requested no jail time.

Defense attorney Dale Blunier said his client suffers from mental health problems.

“He’s on proper medication now and is doing better,” Blunier said.

Dean was apologetic.

“I’m very sorry,” he said. “I’m ashamed of what happened.”

Fitz said he hopes the sentence will help him to understand “acting like a punk is not being a man.”

Dean was also ordered to pay $594 restitution for an officer’s hospital bills to treat injury.