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CASSOPOLIS — A Dowagiac man was sentenced to probation for possession of methamphetamines Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Kyle Christopher Gagiliardo, 40, of Dowagiac, pleaded guilty to possession of meth and was sentenced to two years probation, credit for 67 days served and $2,268 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Oct. 15 outside of Niles. Gagliardo now has five felony and 12 misdemeanor convictions.

Defense attorney Kaitlin Locke said that Gagiliardo had been clean and sober for a long period of time but relapsed and “went off the rails” after his parents died within three weeks of each other. “He has taken responsibility for his behavior right off the bad, he pleaded pretty quickly,” she said.

 Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman told him that if he doesn’t get hold of his addiction he could be suffering health problems like Willis is. “If you continue to use, you will be an old man fast,” he said.

“Your parents dying may be a reason for your relapse but it’s not an excuse,” he said. “Would your parents want to be looking down from heaven and see you destroying your life because they died? I see positive things in your life but it doesn’t seem like you have much gumption.”