Four defendants in drug cases sentenced to prison in 51st Circuit Court
By Allison Scarbrough, Editor
LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court:
– Shawn Michael Babcock, 45, received a guilty verdict in a bench trial June 16, 2023 for methamphetamine possession and assaulting/resisting/obstructing police and was sentenced Aug. 8, 2023 to four to 20 years in prison with credit for 184 days served; a concurrent term of 366 days to two years in prison with credit for 184 days served; and $266 in fines and costs. Babcock was on probation at the time of the offense for a July 19, 2022 methamphetamine possession conviction.
– Thomas Donal Shepard, Jr., 36, pleaded “no contest” Aug. 30, 2022 to two counts of controlled substance delivery/manufacture — cocaine/heroin/or another substance and was sentenced Aug. 8, 2023 to 42 months to 20 years in prison with credit for 47 days served and $266 in fines and costs.
– Dustin Ried Southern, 36, pleaded guilty June 27, 2023 to methamphetamine possession and was sentenced Aug, 8, 2023 to 18 months to 15 years in prison with credit for 117 days served in jail and $198 in fines and costs. Southern pleaded guilty Aug. 8, 2023 to failure to pay child support and is awaiting sentencing in that case set for Oct. 3, 2023.
– Brandon Charles Hathaway, 40, pleaded guilty June 27, 2023 to methamphetamine possession and was sentenced Aug. 8, 2023 to 17 months to 20 years in prison with credit for 133 days served in jail and $198 in fines and costs.
– Fred Arthur Christmas, 64, pleaded guilty June 20, 2023 to methamphetamine possession and was sentenced Aug. 8, 2023 to one year in jail with credit for 85 days served; two years probation; and $598 in fines and costs. One count of assault with a dangerous weapon was dismissed. Christmas pleaded guilty to methamphetamine possession in a separate case and received a concurrent term of one year in jail with credit for 68 days served and $198 in fines and costs.
– Donald Jamal Wiggins, 40, pleaded guilty June 20, 2023 to two counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing police and was sentenced Aug. 8, 2023 to 146 days in jail with credit for 146 days served; two years probation; and $666 in fines and costs.
– Aaron Christopher Ayers, 45, pleaded guilty June 21, 2023 to assaulting/resisting/obstructing police and received a delayed sentence Aug. 8, 2023 of two days in jail with credit for two days served; 11 months probation; and $398 in fines and costs.
Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous
support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
This story is copyrighted © 2023, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For
this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.