Running out of chances
Teen sentenced on assault charges
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HOUGHTON -- 19-year old Jocelynn Kilpela was sentenced to 10 months in the Houghton County Jail for assaulting two prison employees and two police officers. Judge Brittany Bulleit handed down the sentence Monday in a tense court proceeding.
Kilpela pleaded guilty to five counts earlier in the summer. This includes: two counts of assaulting police officers, two counts of assaulting prison employees, and one count of domestic violence. Part of the plea agreement was for Kilpela to be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA).
Both Houghton County Prosecutor Dan Helmer and Defense Attorney Matthew Eliason said they were not fans of this case.
"I absolutely hate this case," Eliason said. "The only good thing that came from it is that I got to meet Jocelynn."
"She's run out of chances," Helmer said. "I think that needs to be abundantly clear to her that she's got a lot of people in her corner."
Kilpela had a string of arrests dating back to this spring, where she attributed a breakup with her mental decline and relapse with drugs and alcohol. Kilpela had a case dismissed in 97th District Court where she was charged with malicious destruction of municipal landscaping and reckless driving in May. Another in April for speeding. Finally, one for underage possession in June.
On probation, Judge Brittany Bulleit said Kilpela was taken in for domestic violence against her mother. On the way to jail she assaulted and resisted two officers, as well as two prison employees which extended her initial charges in circuit court.
"This isn't me. This isn't what I want," Kilpela said during pre-sentence comments.
Eliason said Kilpela is a very intelligent person. She testified working more than 40-hours per week in the past few months to save money and to distract herself from mental anguish.
Judge Bulleit said Kilpela needed to address her mental health and substance abuse concerns, before she hurts more people. "Ms. Kilpela, you are creating a record that the court is not going to be able to ignore at a certain point," she said. "At some point, this court or any other court is going to have to start weighing public safety above rehabilitation."
For counts 1-4 (two counts of assaulting a police officer and two for assaulting prison employees), Jocelynn Kilpela received a 10-month sentence in Houghton County Jail. For count five -- the domestic violence charge -- her jail time served up to Monday's hearing (40 days) was accepted as punishment. Kilpela will be under HYTA supervision in jail and will also serve a 12-24 month probation sentence.
Kilpela broke down during sentencing, threatening self-harm. After a brief recess, Judge Bulleit laid out the terms of her sentence and probation. She will have to pay an additional $350 restitution to the Village of Lake Linden for damages caused as well.