Courts

Homeless man faces prison term for invading home

December 17, 2024

HART  — A 31-year-old homeless man is looking at a three-year prison term after pleading guilty during a pretrial hearing in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court to second-degree home invasion and methamphetamine possession Monday, Dec. 16. Rob Roger Smith faces a prison term of three to 15 years for the conviction, said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. Charges of…

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Hart man sentenced to jail for multiple convictions

December 17, 2024

HART — A 54-year-old Hart man was sentenced to seven months in jail for probation violation, along with a concurrent term of five months in jail for convictions of receiving and concealing stolen property valued between $1,000-$20,000, false report of a felony and methamphetamine/ecstasy possession, in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, Dec. 16. Benito Escamilla, Jr., pleaded “no contest”…

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Man, 61, sentenced to 25-50 years in prison for CSC

December 16, 2024

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 61-year-old West Virginia man was sentenced in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, Dec. 16, to 25-50 years in prison for a conviction of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC). Charles Vernon Alltop was subject to a 25-year mandatory minimum prison term after a jury found him guilty of first-degree CSC and second-degree…

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Defendant’s motion to set aside hunting death conviction denied

December 16, 2024

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART – A judge denied a motion to set aside a conviction against a 69-year-old Jenison man who carelessly discharged his gun, killing a 13-year-old Wyoming, Michigan boy while they were squirrel hunting in Greenwood Township near Hesperia Feb. 18, 2017. Judge Susan K. Sniegowski denied the motion to expunge the conviction of Roger Erick…

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Men involved in ‘donut spinning’ incident ordered to pay over $6,600 each in restitution

December 13, 2024

UPDATE: Two other defendants were sentenced in the case Dec. 17, 2024. Michael Ivan Darling III of Hesperia pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and was ordered to pay $6,739.34 in restitution, and Robert Erie-Lee Bremer of Hesperia also pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and was ordered to pay $6,614.34 in restitution. HART — Six local men who were…

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