Courts

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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Man sent to prison for cutting tether off

June 11, 2025

HART — A 28-year-old Hart man was sentenced to one and a half to 15 years in prison Monday, June 9, in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court for cutting off his tether. Steven Geno Rice III pleaded guilty to tampering with an electronic monitoring device March 4, according to court records. Rice was placed on a tether as a part…

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51st Circuit Court sentencings, published June 11, 2025

June 11, 2025

HART — The following were sentenced in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court: – Timothy David Wert, 44, pleaded guilty April 14 to possession of weapons by a prohibited person and was sentenced June 9 to seven months in jail with credit for 88 days served and $598 in fines and costs. Wert was also found guilty of probation violation and…

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Robber sentenced to prison

June 10, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — One of two Shelby men who robbed the La Mexicana De Pancho grocery store at gunpoint last December was sentenced to three and a half to 25 years in prison in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, June 9. Miguel Angel Vargas-Mares, 23, of Shelby pleaded “no contest” to armed robbery, April 28.…

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