Ludington man sentenced to prison for killing infant son faces charges in Oceana County

Overla

Ludington man sentenced to prison for killing infant son faces charges in Oceana County

LUDINGTON — A 37-year-old Ludington man who was sentenced in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Wednesday, Feb. 15, to 25-70 years in prison for killing his 2-month-old son now also faces breaking and entering and home invasion charges in Oceana County.

Craig David Overla pleaded “no contest” to first-degree child abuse last December.

Overla was also initially charged with felony counts of homicide — open murder, homicide, felony murder and fourth-offense habitual offender in Mason County in connection to the 2019 death of infant Maverick Overla. The murder charges were dismissed in a plea agreement.

Emergency personnel responded to a call of an unresponsive infant, March 12, 2019. Maverick was transported to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital (now Corewell Health Ludington Hospital) and later airlifted to DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. After lifesaving measures failed, he was pronounced dead April 26, 2019.

According to court records, the final incident leading up to the baby’s hospitalization followed a series of abusive events. 

Overla presently faces felony charges of second-degree home invasion and breaking and entering a building with intent in Oceana County stemming from an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office investigation.

“We were aware that the suspect was going through cases with both the federal government and Mason County, and as those have been resolved, we are starting our case,” said Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon. “We’re not expecting that we’re going to be giving him any additional time, but it’s important for the victims that their cases get resolved.”

Overla is currently serving a federal prison sentence. He was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 10 years for federal weapons charges, stemming from the Ludington Police Department’s investigation related to Maverick Overla’s injuries March 2019. He is eligible for release, Oct. 31, 2027. That sentence is separate from this week’s Mason County 51st Circuit Court sentence. 

Overla has been sentenced 11 times in Oceana, Mason and Branch counties for convictions of first-degree home invasion, stolen property, car theft, breaking and entering a building with intent, financial transaction device – stealing/retaining without consent, escape – prison – conspiracy, weapons – firearms – larceny, and breaking and entering a vehicle causing damage.

Overla is scheduled to appear in Oceana County’s 79th District Court for a probable cause hearing Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m.

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