Oceana court sentencings; escapee sent to prison

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

27th Circuit Court

HART — The following were sentenced recently by 27th Circuit Court Judge Anthony A. Monton:

Pearo

– Terry Donald Pearo, 22, of 260 McLaren Lake Rd., Hesperia, was found guilty Dec. 8 of probation violation. He was sentenced Dec. 22 to a minimum of two years to a maximum of 10 years in a Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) prison. He was given credit for 465 days served in jail. He was also ordered to pay $400 in fines and costs. Pearo’s probation stems from February 2013 convictions of unlawful driving away of an automobile and habitual offender, third offense.

Pearo violated his probation when he escaped from Hesperia Police Chief Dale Gibbs while handcuffed, Oct. 9. He was under arrest on outstanding Ottawa County warrants when he escaped from the police chief at the Hesperia Police Department. The Oceana County Sheriff’’s Office, the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office, the Hart post of the Michigan State Police, and the NCSO Canine Unit were called to the scene to track him down. Pearo is slated to appear in court in both Ottawa and Newaygo counties for sentencings next month, and his sentencings in those counties will run concurrent to the prison term ordered in Oceana County, Monton said. Related story here

Oomen

– Kevin Robert Oomen, 33, of 3241 N. 72nd Ave., Lot 2, Hart, was found guilty Nov. 24 of two counts of forgery and one count of uttering and publishing. He was sentenced Dec. 22 to three concurrent terms of three and a half years to 25 years in an MDOC prison. He was also ordered to pay $2,450 in restitution and $334 in fines and costs. His term runs consecutively to a Muskegon County sentence. Related story here

Swanger

– Daniel James Swanger, Sr., 46, of 51 S. Winter St., Apt. F, Hesperia, was found guilty Nov. 10 of attempted larceny $1,000-$20,000. He was sentenced Dec. 22 to six months in jail with credit for two days served; sentence to be served at the court’s discretion with 20 days forthwith; 18 months probation; $400 in fines and costs; no alcohol/drugs and must submit to testing; must use prescription drugs as prescribed; must complete treatment programs as directed by the probation agent; must waive confidentiality and allow disclosure of information to the probation agent; and may not engage in any assaultive behavior. One count of possession of burglar’s tools was dismissed. Swanger’s conviction stems from an incident last September at a marijuana growing operation in rural Newfield Township. He was the eldest of four Hesperia-area men arrested on charges of attempted larceny and possession of burglary tools following a manhunt. Related story here

– Brandon Michael Hughes, 43, of 107 ½ Wood St., Hart, was found guilty Nov. 10 of third-offense domestic violence. He was sentenced Dec. 22 to one year in jail with credit for 78 days served and $198 in fines and costs. Hughes requested that he be placed on an electronic tether in lieu of jail, but Monton did not allow it. “I look at your record, and it’s bad,” Monton said. “It’s horrific. I don’t take any pleasure in sending people to jail.” Hughes’ record includes two felonies and eight misdemeanors, the judge said. “Maybe you’re Jeckyl and Hyde.” The judge told Hughes that he’s fortunate he did not receive a prison term and warned him that if he comes back to court in the future, he will be sent to prison.

Hughes also asked that the no-contact provision for his spouse be dropped, and the judge denied it. “She’s not here,” Monton said regarding Hughes’ wife. “I really can’t react to that.”

78th District Court sentencing

– Chad Lee Witte, 42, of 10682 Brickyard Rd., Holton, pleaded no contest Dec. 22 to attempted interfering with electronic communications. He was sentenced to one year discretionary jail and $490 in fines and costs. One count of interfering with electronic communications and one count of breaking and entering – illegal entry were dismissed.