Pregnant woman receives jail term, tether for meth, accessory convictions

Mara Wittlieff with her attorney, Kelly Lambert.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 20-year-old Ludington woman convicted of possession of meth and accessory after the fact was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 6, in 51st Circuit Court to serve two months up front of an 11-month discretionary jail sentence, followed by six months on a tether.

Mara Lynn Wittlieff was arrested following a Feb. 25 search warrant executed by the State Sheriffs Chiefs Enforcement Narcotics Team (SSCENT) and Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT) in the 200 block of North Harrison Street in the City of Ludington.

Wittlieff’s attorney Kelly Lambert told Judge Susan K. Sniegowsk that his client is in her fifth month of pregnancy. Lambert asked Sniegowski if his client could be allowed to serve her jail time in a different county “for her protection and the protection of her child.”

Sniegowski ruled that Wittlieff can serve her jail time in another county if the defense and prosecution can work together to find another location. But if they cannot, she will serve her sentence in Mason County.

Lambert said his client has found herself in trouble with the law because she has “been taken advantage of by older men.” Co-defendants in the case are Kenneth Purple, 25, and Graham Crawford, 33.

“I do realize the severity of the case,” Wittlieff said, adding that others have taken advantage of her. However, having a child has brought forth “a lot of light” to her situation. “I realize that I have to have consequences for my mistakes,” she said.

The judge noted that Wittlieff had five prior misdemeanor convictions of minor in possession of alcohol. “Going from alcohol-related offenses to meth is a huge jump to a serious controlled substance issue,” Sniegowski said.

Wittlieff’s driver’s license was also suspended for six months with a restricted license after 30 days as part of her sentence.