COLDWATER — Lee Griffin, 32, will get a chance to stay off heroin upon being sober for 79 days after his July 28 arrest in Coldwater. He pleaded guilty to possession of heroin. Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady sentenced him to six months but allowed for release to a probation treatment center as soon as a spot opens. He will be on probation for 18 months. [...]
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Griffin sentenced for heroin
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Lovell warned about fighting in sentence
COLDWATER — The warning for Tyler Lovell, 22, of Pittsford came from Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady when he sentenced him for a St. Patrick’s Day street brawl. Lovell will serve five months jail with four suspended. Then he will be on probation for 18 months after a jury convicted him of assault with a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest in a September trial. [...]
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Record sends Gibson to prison
COLDWATER — Jeffrey Gibson, 39, promised Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady, "I’ve learned my lessons." That was not enough to stop the judge from sending the former Sturgis resident to prison for 17 months to two and a half years after he pleaded guilty to attempted larceny in 2016."You have done jail sentence 26 [...]
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Christman sent back to prison
COLDWATER — Michael Christman, 44, got his wish to return to prison because he said he was not getting his medications at the Branch county Jail. Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady sentenced him to 15 to 24 months for resisting arrest in August after he escaped from police. He also received a year for a second domestic violence charge after no contest pleas. Police were [...]
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Stolte charged after Wednesday chase
COLDWATER — Homeless and seriously addicted to meth, Alexandria Stolte, 19, ran from police Wednesday, "so I could get help and get away from drugs," she said. Stolte is now charged with fleeing officers in a two county chase that took over half an hour and reached speeds well over 100 miles per hour. It ended in Sturgis when Branch County Sheriff Deputy Al Fleming conducted a [...]
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Jamie Coyle loses appeal in CSC case
LANSING — Jamie Coyle, 41, will have to serve his minimum 19 to 40 years in prison after a Branch County Circuit Court jury of nine women and three men convicted him of five counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a 13-year-old girl after two days of trial in May, the Michigan court of Appeals ruled Thursday.Coyle had appealed his [...]
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VanScoder pleads in robbery case Monday
COLDWATER — Half an inch closer and Bryceton VanScoder, 20, would have been killed as he and three friends tried to break into an Algansee home March 28. The Ohio youth pleaded guilty Monday to attempted second degree home invasion in Branch County Circuit Court. He will be sentenced Dec. 10 on the five year felony. VanScoder told Circuit Judge Bill [...]
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3 arrested in Union City Monday
UNION CITY — Three neighbors ended up in jail early Monday morning after one, Kevin Havener, 28, tried to avoid arrest on a Friend of the Court warrant for back child support. Union City Police officer Travis Ferry attempted to arrest Havener who fled to 320 Calhoun St. in Union City where he lived. Havener went into another apartment at that location, occupied by Shawna [...]
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Bailey and Dwater fail probation
COLDWATER — Two defendants who promised Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady they wanted, and needed, treatment are back in jail after failing on probation.Robin Bailey, 33, had probation revoked and was sentenced to a year in county jail with credit for 184 days served. [...]
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Battle of experts brewing in abuse case
COLDWATER — Last Thursday James Smith, 24, waived most of his preliminary exam and was bound over to face charges of child abuse, second and third degree, concerning injuries suffered by his son.Defense attorney J. R. Colbeck wanted to get the state’s [...]
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Hoopingarner found competent
COLDWATER — Mark Hoopingarner, 42, will face charges of assault with a dangerous weapon after cutting his mother with a knife in a confrontation at her River Road home Aug. 30. Hoopingarner has a history of family attacks and was sent to the Michigan Forensic Center in Ypsilanti to determine his competency and criminal responsibility. [...]
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Roberts fails probation
COLDWATER —A failed probation will send Michael Roberts, 34, to jail for three more months, Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady decided.Roberts was arrested by Coldwater Police for driving under the influence of drugs in September 2017. Officers picked up .6 gram of meth he threw to the ground. He pleaded guilty to [...]
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Patient charged with attack on officer Oct. 22
COLDWATER — Emergency Room staff went to the aid of Coldwater Police Sgt. Nick Thornton Oct. 22 after he was called to ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital.Zack Rurka, 23, was reportedly unruly with staff that were trying to treat him and police were called.As the officer entered [...]
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Probationer charged after call to police
COLDWATER — A call to police about a fight with his girlfriend ended with charges of meth possession against Joshua Rutherford, 27.On Oct. 23, Rutherford called 911 to complain Elaine Clark had struck him in the face during an argument. She had already left the Midtown Motel where they were staying. Because Rutherford appeared to be [...]
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More charges brought against Renner
COLDWATER — Following a closed preliminary examination Tuesday Bradley Renner, 29, of Fremont was bound over on three counts of criminal sexual conduct third degree.At the request of Branch County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Val White two additional charges were added by Branch County District Judge Brent Weigle. [...]
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Details of child kidnap, rape, and murder conspiracy heard
COLDWATER — Brittany Raymond, 22, coolly testified she and four others sat around a table in Coldwater on Aug. 26, 2017 and planned to grab a young girl from the Jackson County Fair "to torture this child, sexually assault her, kill her (and) dispose of her."After the testimony, Branch County District Court Judge Brent Weigle bound David Bailey, 37, over to Circuit Court on charges of Conspiracy to Commit [...]
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Positive drug test delays proceedings
COLDWATER — Talia Furman, 32, was to face a preliminary exam Wednesday on life offense charges of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnaping and Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree in Branch County District Court. [...]
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Rodgers arrested in July attack
COLDWATER — After an intensive investigation, Michigan State Police arrested Jason Lee Rodgers, 37, for unlawful imprisonment, a 15-year crime, and assault with a dangerous weapon — a knife and a piece of wood — a four-year offense, during a bizarre incident in Kinderhook Township July 27. Troopers from the Marshall Post and Fifth District Fugitive Team arrested him on a warrant as he left his home at 288 S. [...]
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Underaged girlfriend lands Taylor in jail
COLDWATER — An relationship with a 13-year-old girl has Zachary Taylor, 18, facing criminal sexual conduct third degree charges. According to the Probable Cause Affidavit, the father of the young girl went to Michigan State Police when he suspected his daughter was having sex with an older male. The investigation targeted Taylor as one of the suspects. Troopers talked to him and he [...]
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Record sends Gibson to prison
COLDWATER — Jeffrey Gibson, 39, promised Branch County Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady, "I’ve learned my lessons." That was not enough to stop the judge from sending the former Sturgis resident to prison for 17 months to two and a half years after he pleaded guilty to attempted larceny in 2016."You have done jail sentence 26 [...]
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