Branch man sent to prison for receiving stolen guns.

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Branch man sent to prison for receiving stolen guns.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

HART — A 39-year-old Branch man was sentenced to 18 months to 10 years in prison in 27th Circuit Court Monday, Feb. 7, for a felony conviction of receiving and concealing stolen firearms.

David William Cross, of 8968 US 10, was also ordered by Judge Robert D. Springstead to pay restitution totalling $12,362.50.

Cross has four prior felony convictions of delivery/manufacture of marijuana and two prior misdemeanor convictions, said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon.

His accomplice, 37-year-old Phillip Arthur Boyette of Twin Lake, was sentenced to 18 months to 15 years in prison for a conviction of second-degree home invasion Jan. 31.

The pair went on a crime spree motivated by paying off their drug debts.

“Cross admitted to buying or receiving guns from Boyette knowing — or he should have known — they were stolen,” said Bizon.  

“The restitution is for stolen items and damage incurred during the multiple break-ins. Some were compensated by their insurance company and that money, if paid, will go to the insurance company,” said Bizon.  

During his testimony before Judge Robert D. Springstead, Boyette said that he was motivated to steal in order to pay a debt for his methamphetamine habit.

Boyette testified that he stole a Side-by-Side ORV from a garage on East Buchanan Road in Ferry Township June 9, 2021. He said that he went with Cross to steal from the property.

“I owed him a debt, and I was trying to pay him back,” said Boyette. He testified that he owed about $1,000 for methamphetamine and that Cross also owed a meth debt.

Boyette said that he and Cross stole generators and other items from the house. Cross brought the stolen goods to the door, and Boyette carried them out to the vehicle. 

Boyette was ordered to pay restitution totaling $7,473.

A felony firearm charge against Cross was dismissed. 

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