Criminal trial ends with hung jury

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

HART — The criminal trial against a 45-year-old woman accused of breaking into storage units with three accomplices last April ended in a hung jury Wednesday, Oct. 7, in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court.

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Melissa Sue Young was charged with two felony counts of breaking and entering a building with intent following a break-in to storage units located on Winston Road in Grant Township, April 22, 2025.

“After the completion of proofs, the jury was deliberating,” said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. “The jury indicated they were at a deadlocked impasse. The jury told us where the vote was—this is not allowed. The court was required to declare a mistrial, but essentially this was a hung jury. A verdict in a criminal case must be unanimous. This jury was not going to be unanimous.”

It is not immediately known whether the case will be retried. “I will need to consult with the affected parties and evaluate their interests in retrying the case,” said Bizon.

Young was among four defendants charged in the case. The other three defendants were all convicted after making pleas. 

Dylan Krcma, 34, pleaded guilty to larceny $1,000-$20,000, Oct. 6, 2025, according to court  records. Krcma was sentenced Dec. 8, 2025 to one year in jail with credit for 149 days served and $4,238 in fines, costs and restitution. Two counts of breaking and entering a building with intent were dismissed.

Michael Lynne Varela, 51, pleaded no contest June 8, 2026 to larceny $1,000-$20,000 and was sentenced Aug. 3, 2026 to one year in jail with credit for 266 days served and $3,838 in fines, costs and restitution. Two counts of breaking and entering a building with intent were dismissed.

Krcma

Chelce Jo Beagle, 33, pleaded guilty Jan. 5, 2026 to breaking and entering a building with intent and was sentenced March 2, 2026 to five months in jail with credit for 131 days served; 18 months probation; and $4,238 in fines, costs and restitution. A second count of breaking and entering a building with intent was dismissed. Beagle was found guilty and sentenced for probation violation on this case, June 22, 2026, and received a sentence to 45 days in jail with credit for 20 days served, court records show.

“Krcma testified he broke the door using a pry bar,” said Bizon regarding the break-ins.

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