Weapons conviction leads to jail term.

Howard Larson with his attorney, David Glancy.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 30-year-old Ludington man who held his mother at knifepoint attempting to acquire drug money last June was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Feb. 9, to serve nine months up front of an 11-month discretionary jail sentence, with credit for 248 days served.

Howard Mark Larson, of 5607 N. Stiles Rd., initially faced three felony counts of armed robbery, extortion and felonious assault, and a misdemeanor of possession of marijuana stemming from the incident. Those four counts were dismissed in a plea agreement when he pleaded guilty to the added carrying a concealed weapon charge.

Judge Susan K. Sniegowski also ordered that Larson serve one-and-a-half years probation. He he must fully comply with a community mental health (CMH) treatment plan and enter a treatment facility after his release from jail

Larson was arrested by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office after he forced his mother to go to J’s Country Store, at 1860 N. Lakeshore Dr. in Hamlin Township, and made her write a check for cash, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.

“He made her write a check so he could purchase drugs,” Cole said. The mother alerted the store clerk of the situation, and the clerk placed a 911 call, the sheriff said. No injuries occurred.

“This is a very tricky, delicate matter,” said Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola. “We’re very, very fortunate there was not any serious physical injury to anyone.”

Sniegowski said she ordered that Larson enter an inpatient facility following his release from jail “to make sure you’re 100 percent compliant with your treatment plan. I need assurances from a psychiatrist that his medications are stabilizing his needs.”