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– Michigan Department of Corrections photo
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
LUDINGTON — A 45-year-old man serving a prison term for an attempted methamphetamine possession conviction received a concurrent prison term Tuesday, June 11, in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court for a conviction of failure to return rented property and third-offense habitual offender.
Ronald Clifford Beaver, Jr., received a concurrent term of nine months in prison with credit for 77 days served in jail. Beaver is currently serving a 16 month to five year prison term for the meth conviction, which arose out of a criminal case in Lake County.
“He fails to accept responsibility,” said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand. “He said his wife rented the Home Depot van. He blames it on his significant other who had no other criminal record.”
However, Beaver’s criminal record is significant, said Hand. “It’s peppered with fraud convictions. What we see is fraud, fraud, fraud. He claims all he did was fail to make a phone call to extend the rental.”
Defense attorney Marc Curtis noted that Beaver’s “common law wife” signed the contract for the rental van and made the payment. “He has a drug problem, and it’s going to continue to catch up with him.”
Sentencing guidelines in the case are seven to 34 months, added Curtis.
“I was not trying to throw it all on Lindsey Bishop,” said Beaver of the co-defendant in the case. “It was not my intention. I’m sorry for how it turned out.
According to court records, Lindsey Nichole Bishop, 40, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to failure to return to rental property and received a delayed sentence Feb. 20 of two days in jail with credit for two days served and 11 months probation.
Judge Susan K. Sniegowski noted that Beaver’s prior criminal record includes 13 misdemeanors and three felonies.
He was ordered to pay $3,471 restitution.
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