Mills sentenced on meth charges
To spend 5-20 in prison
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HOUGHTON -- A 36-year old Houghton County man was sentenced in 12th Circuit Court to 5-20 years in prison for distributing and manufacturing methamphetamine Wednesday.
Jody Mark Mills was arrested in March in Houghton by Michigan State Police and pleaded guilty to two meth charges the following month, one count of delivery and manufacturing of methamphetamine and one count of operating a meth lab. Mills was taken in custody outside the Copper Country Mall after he purchased materials to manufacture meth.
Houghton County Prosecutor Dan Helmer said state police had to wear a litany of protective gear in order to gather evidence from Mills's car. Helmer added meth is a poison to the community and advised the court to follow the sentencing guidelines and start Mills at 60 months (5 years).
"I think the court's experience both on the bench, and in my position, leaves it in a unique position to recognize the destructive path that meth leaves in our community," he said. "It ruins families, it destroys lives."
Mills's defense attorney, William Hougaboom said he agreed with Helmer regarding proper sentencing, but asked the court to appoint his client to prison education and substance abuse treatment programs so he can leave prison a rehabilitated citizen. "My client is not a violent person, but he did add to the problem of meth to the community," he said. "There's no excuse for that."
Judge Brittany Bulleit noted Mills's 18 criminal entries since 2019 and said while Mills showed remorse for what he did, proper action was not taken with his mental health and substance abuse issues to deter these felony offenses. "You're putting yourself in danger, you're putting others in danger and you're putting the community in danger," she said. "You have to start thinking about why you made the choices you made."
Mills took the time in court to apologize to those he harmed. He had family members present watching his sentencing.
"I'd like to apologize to the community for introducing the meth," he said. "I know it's wrong and I've seen firsthand and tell firsthand what meth can do to somebody. Hopefully that maybe seeing what happened to me will deter other people who do again."
Mills received credit for 170 days served in Houghton County Jail. He is now in the custody of the Michigan Department of Corrections, awaiting transfer.