Berrien Co., Michigan, man gets prison time on drug charges
Defense attorney Daniel French said that while Ward is no stranger to the criminal justice system, having served time in prison previously, he has been trying to stay on the right path. He said Ward has completed outpatient and inpatient substance abuse programs since his arrest. French asked for a probation sentence in the Swift & Sure program. Ward apologized to the court. “I realize I made a mistake, my dad had just passed,” he said. “I know I made a big mistake.” Berrien Co. Trial Judge Jennifer Smith noted that Ward has a history of these types of convictions in the past. “I’m sentencing you to prison based on your record,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a good use of our resources to place you probation or Swift & Sure.”