Courts

Teen sentenced to jail for knife assault

April 30, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 19-year-old woman was sentenced to one year in jail for convictions of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and assault with a dangerous weapon/felonious assault in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, April 30. Justyce Victoria Gillespie pleaded guilty to the charges, March 19. Gillespie assaulted a male victim with a knife…

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Hotel gunman faces half a dozen charges

April 25, 2024

LUDINGTON — The 40-year-old Pinconning man who allegedly threatened hotel guests with a handgun Tuesday evening, April 23, remains lodged in the Mason County Jail on a $100,000 cash/surety bond, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. Daniel James Bendtsen was arraigned in Mason County’s 79th District Court on the following charges: • two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon,…

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Probation violation yields prison term

April 23, 2024

51st Circuit Court sentencings, posted April 23, 2024 By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court: – Christopher Lee Merriman, 44, was found guilty of probation violation and was sentenced April 16, 2024 to 46 months to 20 years in prison with credit for 649 days served in jail and…

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Jury finds man guilty of 1st-degree CSC

April 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — Bradley Curtis Drake, 27, faces a 25-year mandatory minimum prison term for a conviction of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) — victim under age 13 — after a jury rendered a guilty verdict Thursday, April 18, in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court. Drake is lodged in the Mason County Jail without bond. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28 at…

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79th District Court arraignments, posted April 18, 2024

April 18, 2024

By Alan Neushwander, Contributing Writer LUDINGTON — The following were recently arraigned in Mason County’s 79th District Court: Felonies -Jesse Jacob Hill, 34; assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and fourth offense habitual offender; arrested April 14 by Mason County Sheriff’s Office; arraigned April 15; preliminary hearing: May 1; bail: $100,000 cash. -James Robert Wicks,…

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Mike Shaw