Man to serve up to 5 years in prison for breaking into construction site
The Canton Township man who pleaded guilty to breaking into a building under construction will serve up to five years in prison, court officials said.
Richard Sherwood, 33, was sentenced to 18 months to five years in prison by Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Melinda Morris Monday on four charges. All of the sentences will run concurrently.
In July, Sherwood and Thomas Vickery, of Ypsilanti Township, broke into a building under construction at 5725 Hines Drive and took materials belonging to Tecumseh Products, according to police. Pittsfield Township police, Eastern Michigan University police and University of Michigan police conducted the investigation and Pittsfield Township police officers arrested them on Aug. 1.
In November, Sherwood pleaded guilty to three counts of entering a building with the intent to commit a crime and one count of larcent costing more than $1,000 but less than $20,000.
As a part of the deal, Washtenaw County prosecutors dropped the four other charges he was facing as a part of four criminal cases.
Sherwood previously served time for two charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and a felony firearms charge from a September 2003 incident. He also is on probation for being convicted of possession of cocaine in March 2010, according to state records.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Trouble
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 5 p.m.
Sentencing proclamations in Michigan are deceiving. With good behavior, the incarcerated will normally only serve 2/3rd's of the minimum portion of the sentence. ie: 18 mos... he'll be out in a year.
Cathy
Fri, Dec 16, 2011 : 2:10 a.m.
In Michigan, every convicted person must serve at least the minimum. However, corrections has taken huge hits to balance the budget, and there is intense pressure to get prisoners out on their minimum date.
tinkerbell
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.
Since the truth in sentencing law went into effect, he has to do at least 18 months.
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 7:33 p.m.
That's true. And this guy seems to have chosen to be a career criminal and is of significant danger to the public. Melinda Morris has abdicated her responsibility to the public good.
Sallyxyz
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
Lucky guy, he got Judge Morris, who just loves slap on the wrist justice. He had a lengthy criminal record prior to this crime and he gets 18 months, if he behaves in prison? And only 5 years if he misbehaves? How ludicrous is that? What does it take in Washtenaw County to give out sentences for career criminals that will keep them off the streets for a long time? When is Morris up for re-election?
Gordon
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
Well, prior punishment hasn't done much good. Wonder what new skills he will learn and poorly execute to again avail himself of the public free room & board? Certainly he is not going to change & responsibility is our (the public's) responsibility. Definately a new system is needed. My suggestion would be ship them all off to the south pole. They could get aid as a developing Nation.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
someone can correct me, but as long as he behaves in prison don't most prisoners get bumped out on the lowest end of their range? In his case 1 1/2 years?
tinkerbell
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 11:20 p.m.
That's right
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 12:36 p.m.
He would have to seriously misbehave to actually do 5 years.... Yes? No?