Ionia Co. (Mich.) man sent back to prison for drug probation violation

The judge noted Strouse has four prior felonies and three prior misdemeanors.  “What’s more concerning to the court is your history on probation, which is replete with violations over and over and over again,” Schafer told Strouse. “We’re wasting resources parking you in the Ionia County Jail for a year with no probation because I don’t think you will change at all. I think MDOC is appropriate. You’ve earned this sentence.”

Schafer told Strouse another reason a prison sentence is appropriate is that MDOC may be “the one last entity” that may be able to help him because medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder is available there. “I can’t get it for you in our jail, but they can,” Schafer said. “It can get you on solid footing when you get out on parole. It’s the best opportunity to change the repetitive cycle you’ve been in for most of your adult life.”

Strouse asked about sentencing to the Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program, intensive supervision for high-risk felony offenders. However, because he is already on parole, he likely would not fit the criteria, probation agent Lori Bonn told the court.

Strouse had the option of waiting locally in jail until he was evaluated for Swift and Sure, but his public defender, Jennifer Lamp, told the court her client wanted to be transferred to prison to get the sentence “over with.”