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Nicholas Gale with his attorney, Terry Shaw.
Mears man faces 2 1/2 years in prison for breaking into storage units.
#OceanaCountyCourtNews
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
HART — A 25-year-old Mears man who pleaded guilty in 27th Circuit Court Monday, May 22, to breaking and entering with intent faces 30 months in prison.
Nicholas James Gale, of 5178 W. Fox Rd., was arrested last March by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office for a felony of breaking and entering with intent and third-offense habitual offender.
In exchange for his plea to breaking and entering, Gale’s habitual offender status was dismissed.
Gale at first rejected the plea offer Monday, but then later accepted it. Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon said the plea agreement would not be offered again if Gale was going to reject it.
Judge Robert Springstead reminded Gale that at trial, he would be looking at 20 years in prison if he was found guilty. The maximum term he faces with the plea deal is 10 years in prison.
Gale will also be ordered to pay $837.77 restitution.
Gale and an accomplice used bolt cutters to break into storage units last January on West Tyler Road in Golden Township, he testified. They stole sets of tires, a helmet, goggles and sets of wrenches, he testified.
Springstead noted Gale’s previous felony convictions in Oceana County of second-degree home invasion in November of 2010 and breaking and entering in October of 2012.
Gale is soon slated for sentencing in a Mecosta County case, in which he is going to serve one year in jail, Gale told the judge. Springstead said the case would run concurrently with his Oceana County case.
Springstead continued Gale’s bond until his sentencing, which is set for July 17 at 9:30 a.m. The judge warned Gale that he needs to behave while out on bond. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he said.
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