Fremont man sent to prison for safe breaking.

Jon-Erik Cook with attorney Terry Nolan

Fremont man sent to prison for safe breaking.

#OceanaCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART – A 33-year-old Fremont man was sentenced to 19 months to 30 years in prison for a conviction of safe breaking in 27th Circuit Court Monday, June 17.

Jon-Erik Cook, of 1790 S. Baldwin Ave., pleaded guilty, April 22.

“I’d like to apologize for the crime I’ve committed, and I hope to become a functioning member of society again and make amends with the people I hurt,” Cook said.

Hale

Cook was involved in a crime spree with his girlfriend, 25-year-old Carissa Leann Hale, who stole a safe containing approximately $22,000 in cash and two pistols from her parents Jan. 6 in Greenwood Township, Cook testified.

Hale was sentenced last month to one year in jail after pleading guilty to safe breaking, which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Cook testified last April that Hale stole the safe from her parents. He said that he loaded it into a truck and took it to his house. “I used a crow bar and a hammer, and got it open.”

Cook said he spent his share of the theft – $2,000 – on drugs. “Your drug dealer had a good month, then,” Judge Robert D. Springstead said. “Yes,” Cook answered. He testified that he gave the guns, which were a 9-millimeter and a .40-caliber pistol, to his ex-girlfriend, and she was going to trade them for drugs.

Some of the stolen cash was used to bail several people out of the Newaygo County Jail, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 19-38 months.

Cook had also faced felony charges of receiving and concealing weapons, felony firearm and habitual offender, which were dismissed in a plea deal.

He does not have a significant criminal record, Springstead said.

Cook received credit for 115 days served in jail.

He was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution, which is joint and several with Hale.

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