Courts

Man sentenced to 20-80 years in prison for deadly drug deal

July 2, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — A 32-year-old Oceana County man was sentenced to 20-80 years in prison in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, July 1, for the fentanyl death of his friend. A jury found Travis Michael Gale guilty, March 24, of delivery of a controlled substance causing death, delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine and delivery/manufacture of cocaine, heroin or another…

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79th District Court arraignments, published June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

HART — The following were arraigned recently in Oceana County’s 79th District Court: Felonies – Tony Liu, 27, of Swedesboro, New Jersey; delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance — cocaine, heroin or another narcotic less than 50 grams. Preliminary exam: July 8 at 1 p.m. – Richard Allen Edlund II, 47, of Rothbury; methamphetamine possession. Preliminary exam: July 15 at 1…

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79th District Court sentencings, published June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

HART — The following were sentenced recently in Oceana County’s 79th District Court: Lisa Rebecca Birkett, 53, of Rothbury, pleaded guilty June 3 to operating while intoxicated and was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served; six months probation; Alcohol Highway Safety Education; Victim Impact Panel; and $1,000 in fines and costs. One count of…

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51st Circuit Court sentencings, published June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

HART — The following were sentenced recently in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court: – Nikolas Paul Martin, 24, pleaded guilty April 28 to controlled substance possession — cocaine, heroin or another narcotic and was sentenced June 16 to one day in jail with credit for one day served; one year probation; and $398 in fines and costs. One count of…

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Jury finds man guilty of six felonies in drug dealing case

June 24, 2025

‘The vehicle was a virtual drug store,’ the prosecutor said of the car in which Levi Richard of New Era and Dakota Wilber of Muskegon were dealing drugs. By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — A jury found a 35-year-old Muskegon man guilty of six felony counts in a drug dealing case Friday, June 20, in Mason County’s 51st Circuit…

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