Habitual offender faces prison term for assault convictions

Merriman

LUDINGTON — A 44-year-old man faces a minimum of four years in prison after pleading no contest to three assault charges in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19.

Christopher Lee Merriman pleaded to charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, second-offense domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and fourth-offense habitual offender.

Merriman’s sentence will run concurrently with a probation violation, said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski. His fourth-offense habitual offender status increases his maximum possible prison term to life, said the judge.

Merriman was sentenced, May 23, 2023, to one year in jail and two years probation for convictions of breaking and entering a building with intent and felon in possession of weapons in Mason County,

He was sentenced to 117 days in jail followed by 90 days on a tether, Oct. 29, 2018, in Oceana County for a conviction of felonious assault. Merriman wielded a utility knife at a female victim, according to his testimony. 

Sentencing is set for April 30.

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