CASSOPOLIS — A Niles man already in prison was given another prison term Friday in Cass County Circuit Court.

Jeffries

Isaiah Evert Jeffries, 29, of Niles, pleaded guilty to attempted receiving, concealing or possession of a stolen vehicle and was sentenced to 17 months to two and a half years in prison with credit for 120 days already served. He must pay $1,548 in fines and costs and $155.10 in restitution.

He was sentenced last December in Niles Berrien County Trial Court for third-degree fleeing and eluding police and received a term of 12 months to 5 years in prison with credit for 102 days served. That incident occurred July 30 in Niles.

In the Cass County case, the incident occurred Jan. 10, 2020 at Gumwood and Redfield Roads in Milton Township. Jeffries had previously been scheduled to be sentenced in 2023 but failed to appear for his sentencing.

 Statements made in court Friday indicated that police were called about a single vehicle accident with a car off the road. Jeffries left the scene on foot but returned while police were on the scene. Police later learned that Jeffries had been involved in a side swipe accident on U.S. 12 near Bell Road and the vehicle was reported stolen out of South Bend.

Cass County Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Lebbin noted that his office had initially agreed to make no sentencing recommendation but has withdrawn that after Jeffries failed to appear and committed other crimes. Friday, he said he agreed with defense attorney Robert Drake to give Jeffries a sentence of time served.

Drake pointed out that Jeffries had already served 120 days on this case and the guidelines call for a sentence of between zero and nine months.

“Obviously looking into the future, if he does not put all this behind him, an avalanche of cases will put his guideline range higher,” he said. “The fact hie is already serving a prison sentence makes this recommendation appropriate.”

Jeffries appeared via Zoom from prison in Jackson, Michigan and also spoke before the sentencing.

“I’m trying to straighten up my life and make better choices,” he said. “I have kids at home. I want to get back to work and provide for kids and be a positive role model for my children.”

Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark Herman noted that Jeffries has already been sentenced to prison previously and has had other criminal charges including for failure to appear in Berrien County and St. Joseph County, Indiana.

Judge Herman pointed out that Jeffries had failed to live up to his end of the bargain when was initially offered a plea agreement with no additional jail time.

“These guidelines in my opinion aren’t appropriate in your case when I look at your conduct,” he said.

“You have to learn that if you’re going to be involved in the system, you have to cooperate and you have to appear,” he added. “You have to stand up and face the consequences. It’s the only way to move forward.”

He said that he believed it to be reasonable and proportionate to depart upward from the sentencing guidelines based on Jeffries’ conduct.

“You are a young man, you have children, you’ve got a long life ahead of you,” he said. “You can be a role model for kids but when I look at what you’ve done the last five years, you’ve been anything but a role model for your kids.”

“You have been nothing but disrespectful and uncooperative, you continue to commit crimes in the community,” he added. “The guidelines in my opinion are way, way below what you deserve. I hope you learn from this and not commit any more crimes. But if you do, the consequences will be worse.”

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