NILES — Two young men were sentenced Monday morning by Judge Charles LaSata, of Berrien County Circuit Court, 1205 N. Front St. in Niles. LaSata made clear to them the weight of their actions and that they had befriended the wrong people.

Jonathon Joseph Gamble, 21, of Platt Street in Niles Charter Township, was charged for carrying a concealed automatic gun. He will serve two years of probation and pay $898 in fines.

He was also sentenced 120 days in jail, with 60 days served, but LaSata said that sentence will end once the department of corrections finds a GPS tether to use on Gamble for part of his probation.

At 8 p.m. July 26, law enforcement stopped a vehicle entering Harding’s Market, at 407 Broadway St., in Niles at a high rate of speed.

The passenger, Kortney Mitchell, said Gamble, its driver, gave her something in a draw string bag. Inside was a 0.22 revolver. A 0.22 shell and a pipe with methamphetamine residue were later found in the middle console of the vehicle.

LaSata noted Gamble’s past alcohol convictions and a recent disturbing the peace violation in his sentencing Monday, stating he feared Gamble would not learn his lesson if jail time was not given.

He told Gamble part of his probation included avoiding contact with felons, of whom Gamble admitted to talking to. It was why he carried a concealed gun when he was pulled over, he said.

“I don’t want you to become this,” LaSata said, holding up eight pages of convictions from the man Gamble was speaking to. “I want you to live a great life.”

Gamble will be able to perform some forms of work while on probabtion and will be required to complete his GED.

Calvin Cornell Edwards, 20, of Chicago, was the other young man LaSata said was hanging with bad people. He was sentenced to 160 days in jail, with 42 days served, and $258 in fines for resisting arrest.

After serving his Michigan sentence, Edwards will be sent to an Illinois court, where he will likely receive a trial on the warrants for his arrest.

Edwards was in Buchanan en route to Benton Harbor with two other Chicagoans Sept. 21 because of their Illinois warrants. All three were “laying low,” Edwards said, by traveling to another state to avoid their warrants.

LaSata said he sees this often.

At 12:36 a.m., a Buchanan officer attempted to stop a black Jeep, in which Edwards was a backseat passenger, because of its temporary license. The driver drove the vehicle south to Three Oaks, leading law enforcement on a chase. At times, the Jeep drove at speeds nearing 130 miles an hour on US-12.

Once officers pulled over the vehicle, three people within fled, Edwards included. Edwards and the driver were caught, while another passenger escaped.

Inside the vehicle, which was stolen, were tools officers suspected were intended for burglary.

LaSata said Edwards had one of the worst juvenile records he had seen in 15 years, with 17 prior convictions.

The judge said his jail time would hopefully send a message to Edwards’ friends in Chicago to stay away from Michigan when escaping warrants.

The driver will be sentenced before 2019 ends.

Two other men were sentenced Monday as well.

• Daniel Demont Esters, 35, of Oak Street in Buchanan, was sentenced for third-degree domestic violence and two counts of resisting arrest. He will spend two to three years in prison, with 124 days served, and pay $248 in fines.

Esters admitted to being heavily intoxicated July 3. Officers responded to a call over a domestic dispute between Esters and a woman that appeared to end in the woman being physically harmed.

When officers approached Esters, he was still drunk and attacked an officer twice while being arrested.

Esters wrote two letters once arrested, parts of which were read out loud. They stated the court was out to get him.

“Daniel Esters is not a victim. Daniel Esters creates victims,” LaSata said in response.

• Roland EC Payne, 45, was sentenced to 150 days in jail, with 74 days served, and $198 in fines for breaking and entering into the former Niles Inn for scrap metal.

Payne, who is currently homeless, said he had plans to go to Kentucky, where a job opportunity awaits him after he serves his time.