Circuit court sentencings
In March stolen vehicle case
Trending
HOUGHTON -- Sentences were handed down by Judge Brittany Bulleit in 12th Circuit Court Wednesday in connection with a stolen vehicle case in March. 19-year old James Gherna was sentenced to one year in the Houghton County Jail and one year probation following the completion of his sentence. His co-conspirator, 23-year old Joshua LaBonte, was sentenced to seven months in the county jail followed by a year’s probabtion.
Gherna pleaded guilty to one count of receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle and one count of unlawful driving away. His breaking and entering charge was dismissed by Houghton County Prosecutor Dan Helmer. LaBonte pled guilty to a similar charge (receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle). Two charges, breaking and entering, as well as unlawful driving away, were both dismissed by the prosecution.
During Gherna's sentencing, Bulleit said the defendant damaged Houghton County Jail property before Wednesday's sentencing and she was reluctant to enroll him in the Holmes Youthful Trainees Act (HYTA) in order to scrub his criminal record.
Gherna said he was afraid of being sent to prison over jail due to his fear of losing progress on his sobriety and behavior. "I just want my future to start and be successful," he said.
According to Bulleit, Gherna has had a substance abuse problem from a young age and failed HYTA before when he picked up a previous misdemeanor charge. She granted him HYTA status in jail on the condition he takes substance abuse counseling seriously.
LaBonte got a lighter sentence because of his cooperation with authorities, Bulleit said. At his sentencing, the 23-year old Houghton County resident told the court he needed to rid bad influences in his life. "I've been trying to basically be a better person and trying to find the people that are positive in my life, that can help me in the future," he said.
Helmer reiterated LaBonte was the key to getting the convictions for this case. "Without him, we would not have been able to remove this case the way we did," he said.
LaBonte was enrolled in HYTA as well. He and Gherna will both spend time in Houghton County Hail for the next few months. As a part of both defendants’ probations neither of them are allowed to contact each other. They will also pay $9,762 each in joint-restitution to the victim.