Ludington man sentenced for aggravated stalking.

Matthew Case appears in 51st Circuit Court via Zoom video conferencing.

Ludington man sentenced for aggravated stalking.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON — A 46-year-old Ludington man was sentenced to one year in jail in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Dec. 15, for a felony conviction of aggravated stalking.

Matthew Jason Case, of 926 E. Tinkham Ave., was also ordered to six months on GPS monitoring following his release from jail and five years probation. He must have no contact with the victim.

“If he has any violations, he’s looking at a prison sentence,” said Mason County Assistant Prosecutor John Middlebrook.

The victim in the case read a letter in court, describing the horrifying details of the abuse she suffered at Case’s hands. “Matt tried to kill me; he was going to kill me; and this wasn’t the first time. During this last attack, he looked me right in the eyes and said, ‘Are you ready to die bitch?'”

She said Case abused her while their son was present. “He was going to kill me in front of our son.”

“I live in constant fear someone is going to hurt or kill me,” she said.

“While in jail, he was using other people to deliver me messages even though he knew this was in violation of the no contact order.”

“The letter details some really horrifying experiences, and I don’t in any way want to minimize that,” said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski. “However, we’re here for a different case. This is aggravated stalking that involved calls from the jail to (the victim) from other people. The incidents that she’s detailing in that letter are not currently in front of the court.

“I am limited to sentencing Mr. Case on the matter in front of us right now.”

Case had previously been released from jail on a GPS tether, but was placed back in jail after testing positive for methampetamine. While out on tether, the victim “taunted” him, said defense attorney Tracie Dinehart. She walked past his residence with their child “multiple times a day,” said Dinehart, and left notes on his car. She said the victim made an allegation that he was at the victim’s house, but the GPS tether “proved that wrong.”

“I wish the best for Mr. Case that he will do well on probation, but I have great concerns,” said Middlebrook.

Case received credit for 321 days served in jail.

Sentencing guidelines are 12-24 months.

The hearing was held via Zoom video conferencing due to COVID-19.

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