Prison given to probation violator

A 23 year-old Cedar man was sentenced to 16 to 24 months in the Michigan Department of Corrections Tuesday for violating his Circuit Court probation.  Dustin T. Popa was convicted of Maintaining a Drug House after being arrested by the Traverse Narcotics Team in April 2011.  He violated probation on that conviction by being arrested for Operating While Intoxicated in District Court following an arrest on November 17, 2012. 

A Leelanau County deputy clocked Popa at 102 miles per hour at 8:00 pm in Kasson Township.  The deputy was able to catch up to the suspect and arrested him for OWI with a High BAC.  Popa's Datamaster result was .19%.

Parole violator going back to prison

Marcell W. Schocko, 20, of Traverse City, was sentenced to 16 to 24 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to OWI and Resisting Arrest.  Schocko was clocked at 105 miles per hour north of Suttons Bay at 1:00 pm by Suttons Bay Police on December 7, 2012.  He resisted arrest while being taken into custody for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense.
 
He was on parole after being convicted of Home Invasion 3rd degree in Grand Traverse County.  He will be re-sentenced on the Home Invasion charge because he violated his parole.  Any additional time given for the p
arole violation will be served consecutively, meaning it will be served in addition to the 16 to 24 months for the Resisting Arrest.

Daytime burglar gets jail time

Mauricio M. Southbird, 18, of Northport, will spend 11 months in the Leelanau County jail after pleading guilty to Larceny in a Building.  He was arrested on January 5, 2013 by Leelanau County deputies shortly after entering an Empire Township home and stealing items.  The original charge of Home Invasion was dropped in exchange for the plea to the 4 year felony.

Southbird's two co-defendants, Cameron Schocko and Samantha Brown have both been charged and are awaiting further Circuit Court action.

3rd offense drunk driver gets 9 months

Terrance P. Weber, 57, of Traverse City, was sentenced to 9 months in the Leelanau County jail for Operating While Intoxicated 3rd offense.  Weber was arrested by Leelanau deputies at 9:06 pm on March 10, 2012 in Solon Township.  His blood alcohol was .19%.

Weber was sentenced to sobriety court but failed the program and was re-sentenced in Circuit Court on March 19, 2013 by 13th Circuit Court Judge Philip E. Rodgers.

Several weather-related crashes but no injuries

Although there have been some crashes due to snow covered road conditions, thankfully there haven't been any injuries.  Credit safety belts, slower speeds and a little luck for no occupants heading to the hospital.  Drivers are reminded to slow down and remain attentive.  Spring is here, at least on the calendar!