NILES — A Kentucky man who embezzled from his employer in Buchanan was sentenced to jail and probation even though he has made full restitution of more than $24,000.

Lance Gordon Schickling, 37, of Villa Hills, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to attempted false pretenses more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 and was sentenced Monday in Berrien County Trial Court to 18 months’ probation, 30 days jail with credit for nine days served, $24,407.55 restitution and $1,878 in fines and costs.

The embezzlement incidents occurred between Jan. 1, 2018, and Jan. 1, 2019, from the Lean Factory America company in Buchanan. Schickling was an employee of the company and would submit receipts for reimbursement of expenses he actually did not incur. Those expenses included ones for hotel stays, car repairs and mileage.

Company owner Gregory Fisher spoke before the sentencing.

“We hired him for a reasonably well-paying job of $80,000 a year. He was given responsibilities, and we expected high performance from him,” he said. “Unfortunately, it came to our awareness at the same time he was terminated for non-performance that he had committed crimes.

“This was not a single act in 18 months but 18 known acts,” he added. “Somewhere inside, I believe he is a good man, but something has to be done to change his behavior.”

Defense attorney Brian Wojtowicz noted that his client has a strong work history and did make full restitution Monday. Schickling apologized for his actions as well as to the court, his family and to the company.

“I accept responsibility for what I’ve done,” he said. “I’m trying to pick the pieces up.”

“Your employer was very astute. This was 18 separate acts of embezzlement, and each one could have been a separate charge,” Berrien County Trial Judge Sterling Schrock said. “It wasn’t one time. You had multiple opportunities to recognize what you did was wrong and rectify it.

“That needs to be addressed,” Schrock added. “Yes, you’ve now made restitution but your employer lost business opportunities due to your actions. My point is that it wasn’t a single act but multiple acts you didn’t take responsibility for.”

In another sentencing, a Watervliet man was sentenced to prison for first degree criminal sexual conduct.

Wayne Lynn Dill, 63, of W. St. Joseph Street in Watervliet, pleaded no contest to first degree criminal sexual conduct-relationship to 60 months to 40 years in prison. He must pay $258 in fines and costs, register as a sex offender and be on lifetime GPS monitoring.

The incident occurred between July 11, 2014, and Aug. 31, 2014, at a location in Berrien Springs.

Assistant Prosecutor Jane Wainwright noted that Dill victimized a 13-year-old girl in this incident and had previously done similar actions against another young girl more than 30 years ago.

Defense attorney Scott Sanford said Dill has not had a significant criminal history and accepted a plea early on in this case to spare the victim from having to testify.

“He pled early because he didn’t want to put the family through a trial,” he said. “He’s remorseful and ashamed.”

Judge Schrock said that pleading early in cases like this was traditionally considered to be a mitigating factor in the 1970s and 1980s.

“The thought was that a defendant was saving the victim from having to testify by pleading early and was always considered a mitigating factor,” he said.

Schrock said that while taking an early plea is not “on anyone’s radar” as a mitigating factor in recent decades, he would consider it in this case.

“Certainly taking responsibility early on and sparing the victim from having to testify at trial is something I will consider,” he said.

Also Monday, a North Liberty man was given probation for having a weapon in his car when he was stopped for drunk driving.

Kadin Michael Jedlowski, 22, of North Liberty, Indiana, pleaded guilty to attempted carrying a concealed weapon in an automobile and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for two days served, gun forfeited and $898 in fines and costs. He was given credit for two days served and $1,266 in fines and costs or drunk driving.

The incident occurred Sept. 10 when police stopped him on U.S. 12 near Weaver Road in Bertrand Township for drunk driving. A search of the car uncovered a nine-millimeter gun.

Defense attorney Lanny Fisher noted that it was Jedlowski’s first felony conviction. He said there were no bullets in the gun or in the vehicle and his client was up front with police.

Judge Schrock told Jedlowski to think twice before driving drunk and driving around with a weapon in a car again.

“Does that set an example for others or help the national conversation on guns?” he asked.