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Anthony, left, with his attorney David Glancy.
By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.
LUDINGTON — A Ludington man who broke into several Amber Township businesses, sold drugs and jumped bail, will serve the next 6 to 30 years in prison. Raymond Allen Anthony, 37, of 202 W. Fitch St. was sentenced today in 51st Circuit Court for the October 2013 breaking and entering of Amber Township businesses Alway’s Antique Mall, Alway’s Service Center and Marek Auto Parts. He later sold drugs in his driveway.
He also absconded bond and was later arrested in Florida. He was extradited back to Michigan.
Anthony was initially charged with five counts of breaking and entering, a count of safe breaking, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, marijuana, a count of absconding and forfeiting bonds and habitual offender third offense.
The breaking and entering charges included one count of breaking and entering into Alway’s Antique Mall/Alway’s Service Center at 2144 W. Johnson Road, Amber Township, five counts of breaking and entering at Marek’s Auto Parts, 3473 W. U.S. 10-31, Amber Township, a count of attempted safe breaking at Marek’s. Each of the B&E charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison while the attempted safe breaking charge is punishable by up to five years in prison. However, because Anthony is a repeat offender, the maximums are doubled. The B&Es on two dates in October 2013.
Anthony was also charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, marijuana — each punishable by a maximum of four years in prison and a $20,000 fine — for selling marijuana from his driveway on two occasions in March 2014. Because he is a fourth time repeat offender, the punishment is increased to 15 years in prison.
Additionally he was charged with one count of absconding/forfeiting bonds (he left town after bailing himself out of jail), punishable by up to four years in prison.
Anthony had left the state and was arrested in Florida. He was extradited back and will have to pay restitution for the county’s extradition costs.
Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola offered Anthony a plea agreement of dropping the charges of B&E on West Johnson Road, dropping three of the B&E charges and the attempted safe breaking charge from Marek’s, while still being responsible for restitution on all original counts against him. His repeat offender status would be dropped from fourth time to third time. His prison sentence of 6 to 30 years would run concurrent. He receives credit for 96 days served in jail and must also pay Richard Alway $5,500 in restitution and must pay the Marek family $1,400 in restitution.
In 1995, Anthony was convicted on two arson charges and a B&E charge from Mason County. He also served time in prison for his involvement in a 2004 homicide at a migrant camp in Riverton Township.
Richard Alway addressed the court saying that he did not believe six years minimum in prison is not enough time for Anthony. “I look at his record and think six years for a young man who can’t be in society is not long enough. If you’ve ever been robbed you know what it feels like. You work all your life and then it’s gone.”
“You said it explicitly and you are correct,” Judge Richard Cooper said.
“I just want to say, Your Honour, I apologize to the Alway family,” Anthony said. “At this moment, I know there’s nothing I can say to ease their pain but I hope someday to make this situation correct.”
Spaniola said Anthony has a lengthy criminal history that dates back to 1994 as an adult and further back to 1988 as a juvenile.
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