Local men get suspended sentences for sex crimes – Leader publications

NILES – Two area men were sentenced to prison and probation for sex crimes on Monday in Berrien County Court.

Gregory Vaughn Schanick, 32, of Buchanan, pleaded guilty to possession of sexual material and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, five years probation, registering as a sex offender and fined and court costs of $658. He cannot have contact with anyone over the age of 17 and cannot be within 150 meters of a school or 300 meters of a park.

The incident occurred on October 11, 2023 in Buchanan, when photos and videos of children were found on his phone.

Defense attorney Peter Johnson noted that this is Schanick’s first offense. Schanick said he intentionally did not look for the photos found on his phone and did not know he had them.

“I’m not sure I believe that,” Judge Smith said. “You had 100 photos and videos on your phone. I don’t know why you sent the material if you didn’t know what it was. I don’t think you just found them on your phone.

“The first step is to admit what you did,” she added. “You told the police what they would find and that the photos were in a hidden folder. You need to stop lying to yourself, denial won’t help. The law takes this seriously, these images are created because there is a market.

Thaddeus David Schultz, 40, of Michigan City, Indiana, pleaded guilty to accosting a child for immoral purposes and was sentenced to five years probation, 45 days in jail with credit for one day, registration as a sex offender and a fine of $658 and costs.

The incident occurred on March 3 in Niles. He arranged a meeting with an underage child who turned out to be a police decoy.

Schultz apologized to the court and the Niles community. “I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said. “My thoughts weren’t in a good place. I tried to put them back in their right place. I want to put this behind me and be a law-abiding person. I really learned my lesson.”

“I want to make sure you understand why this law exists,” Judge Smith said. “I’m not sure what your intentions were. I don’t think you just wanted to hang out and talk. Your communication with the decoy was sexual in nature. The first part of rehabilitation is to confirm what you planned to do that day.

In another case, Jeremy Ray Hossa, 49, of Niles, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to three concurrent terms of 90 days in jail with credit for two days served, firearm confiscated, and $394 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred on May 18, 2021 in Niles. Hossa previously served a federal sentence for drug possession in 2011 and has not been charged with any other charges as of 2021. Hossa said he was unaware arrest warrants had been issued.

In other sentences:

• Maurice Bernard Anderson, 19, of Niles, pleaded guilty to attempted resisting or obstructing police and assault and battery and was sentenced to 60 days in jail with credit for 42 days served and fined and costs of $175. The incident occurred on December 31, 2023 in Niles, when he attacked a hospital security officer and a police officer. He also pleaded guilty to violating probation stemming from a prior home invasion conviction, had his probation revoked and was sentenced to jail for 352 days already served.
• Desiree Therese Danger, 44, of St. Joseph, pleaded guilty to attempted identity theft and was sentenced to $882.82 in fines, costs and restitution and 40 hours of community service. The incident occurred on May 17, 2021 in Niles Township and involved theft from her sister.
• Duncan Shane Harrison, 33, of Buchanan, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree fleeing from police and was sentenced to 13 days time served and fined and costs of $658. The incident occurred on March 9 in Niles Township.