Courts

Court of appeals upholds murder conviction

March 19, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — The Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the 2023 murder conviction of Carlos Andres Sanchez, 35, of Muskegon. Sanchez was found guilty by a jury, Sept. 21, 2023 of first-degree murder and felony firearm for shooting and killing a 28-year-old Miguel Angel Gutierrez of Muskegon with a handgun June 12, 2022. Sanchez was sentenced…

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Drug dealer sentenced to 13.5 years minimum for 11 convictions

March 12, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — A 27-year-old New Era man was sentenced to a minimum of 13 ½ years in prison for 11 felony convictions in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 11. Levi Alan Richard pleaded no contest Jan. 14 to two counts of delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine; one count of conspiracy to deliver/manufacture methamphetamine; four counts…

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51st Circuit Court sentencings, published March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025

HART — The following were sentenced recently in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court: – Juan Sanchez, Jr., 28, of Shelby, pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to third-offense operating while intoxicated and was sentenced March 10 to 10 months in jail; 18 months probation; and $748 in fines and costs. One misdemeanor count of driving while license suspended was dismissed. – Mark…

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Man sentenced to prison for unarmed robbery conviction

March 10, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 58-year-old Hart man was sentenced in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, March, 10, to two to 15 years in prison for a felony conviction of assault with intent to rob while unarmed. Francisco Lujano Paniagua pleaded guilty to the charge Jan. 6. Felony charges of assault with intent to rob while…

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79th District Court arraignments, published March 6, 2025

March 6, 2025

HART — The following were arraigned recently in Oceana County’s 79th District Court: Felonies  – Devon Izac Matthew Smith, 28, of Montague; a felony of fleeing and eluding police and a misdemeanor of driving while license suspended (DWLS). Preliminary exam: March 25 at 1 p.m. – Ken Vincent Tetzlaff, 54, of Twin Lake, a felony of third-offense operating while intoxicated.…

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