A Cassopolis man who has served more than 20 stints in jail will spend even more time behind bars.

Judge Michael Dodge sentenced 27-year-old Keith Wade-Ezekial Meachum, of Graham Street, Cassopolis, to a minimum term of two years to a maximum of 10 years in prison during the man’s appearance in Cass County Friday. Meachum was punished on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and resisting/assaulting police, both of which he pleaded guilty to Sept. 16.

The counts stem from Meachum’s arrest on June 13 at the Fairview Apartment Complex located on Graham Street.

According to the judge, the arrest occurred after Meachum showed up to one of his relative’s apartments intoxicated, and asked if he could spend the night there. After his family member rebuked him due to his intoxication, he became enraged, punching out a pane of glass in the apartment.

Officers with the Cassopolis Police Department were called to take Meachum into custody, though the man resisted their attempts to arrest him, forcing authorities to forcibly remove him from the apartment and place him in the back of a squad car.

“Once you got in the patrol car, you started banging your head repeatedly on the cage between the back and front seat,” Dodge said. “You also managed to smash out the rear window of the vehicle with your head.”

After stopping the car to address the situation, one of the arresting officers found Meachum in possession of a knife, which police failed to find when initially forcing the man into the back of the vehicle.

The man continued his erratic behavior after he was transported to the hospital for treatment of his wounds, refusing to cooperate with medical staff attempting to assist him.

In spite of his age, Meachum has an extensive prior record, with four felonies and 19 misdemeanors, resulting in a “mind boggling” 21 prior jail sentences, Dodge said.

Given his record, Assistant Prosecutor Kirk Metzger asked the judge to follow the state’s recommended sentence and give the defendant time in prison for his behavior.

“Local sanctions have been tried and tried and tried with Meachum, and he has continued to re-offend,” Metzger said.

Meachum’s attorney, Gregory Feldman, said his client is an admitted alcoholic who is also dealing with methamphetamine and other substance abuse problems.  His life also got off to a troubled start, as Meachum dealt with abuse from foster parents, Feldman said.

“At an age where he should have been protected by the state, he was abused by the people who were given the right to care for him,” Feldman said.

Feldman asked the judge to give Meachum another local sentence, as it would give him a better chance of receiving help for his addiction problems.

Dodge decided to follow the state’s recommendation of a prison sentence, though, echoing the statement by the prosecutor by saying that previous jail sentences have not curtailed Meachum’s criminal lifestyle.

“The current offenses have you fighting with law enforcement, in possession of a concealed weapon and damaging private and police property,” Dodge said. “It appears that, especially when drinking, you have a total disregard for authority. You pose a significant threat to the public through your conduct.”