Amber Twp. woman sentenced to up to 10 years prison on drug charges.

Somsel

Amber Twp. woman sentenced to up to 10 years prison on drug charges.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — April Lynn Somsel, 47, of Pere Marquette Township was sentenced to serve 1 to 10 years in prison during 51st Circuit Court proceedings on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. On Feb. 13, 2022, Somsel was arrested by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance (ecstasy), possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and fourth offense habitual offender. 

Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2022, deputies from Mason County Sheriff’s Office were called to Somsel’s home in the 700 block of North Meyers Road in Pere Marquette Township. 

According to Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Kreinbrink, Somsel’s husband called 911 on Feb. 13, 2022 and reported “that his wife was, quote, ‘acting nuts.’” Kreinbrink said law enforcement arrived on scene and observed several controlled substances around Somsel. 

“During the investigation, a 47-year-old Ludington woman was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl along with numerous used and unused needles,” Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole previously stated.

Somsel had been sentenced in Mason County’s 79th District Court in early February to serve 17 days in jail, with credit for 17 days served, for felony charges of third offense domestic violence and second offense habitual offender. As part of a plea agreement, the initial charge of fourth offense habitual offender was reduced to second offense. 

“In a matter of days after being sentenced you were picked up again with methamphetamine,” said Judge Susan Sniegowski. “You have been given many chances.” 

“I would like to apologize to the court and my husband for bringing him into this, for something that he had nothing to do with,” Somsel told the court.  

On April 5, 2022 Somsel accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to the two charges. Her sentencing calls for serving a prison term of 366 days to 10 years with credit for 99 days served. The two sentences run concurrent.

The conviction is Somsel’s fifth felony conviction. Kreinbrink described Somsel as having “a lengthy history of substance abuse.” 

In 2017, Somsel was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court to serve seven months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term for attempted second-degree home-invasion. At the time, Somsel admitted in court that she suffered from an opiate addiction as well as medical issues. 

“I’ve lost everything because of my drug addiction,” she said. She had previously been convicted in Oceana County on first degree home invasion. 

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