Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department wish to clarify that alleged sexual encounters between Sturgis firefighter Joshua Snyder and a then-15-year-old girl did not take place at a Sturgis school. Snyder was formally charged Wednesday with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of third- degree CSC and two counts of fourth- degree CSC for a …
Read More »Government
B & E in Nottawa Township
St. Joseph County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 24000 block of M-86 Friday in Nottawa Township regarding a breaking-and-entering incident. According to a department media release, cash was taken and items inside an unoccupied dwelling were damaged.
Read More »Police find bike
State police said a bicycle was found last week in Mottville Township. The girls bicycle was located in an area along U.S. 12 and Vistula Road. The bicycle can be claimed by making positive identification and alerting the state police post in Coldwater, at 517-278-2373.
Read More »Brown sentenced to at least 39 years in prison
Despite maintaining his innocence, Andy Brown was sentenced Friday to serve at least 39 years in prison for killing Sturgis CPA David Locey last October. The sentence was issued by St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman, who assigned Brown between 37 1/2 and 75 years for second-degree murder, and two years for felony use of a firearm. Stutesman …
Read More »Two Sturgis boards merge
Members of the Sturges-Young Auditorium board and Sturgis Council of the Arts board have voted to merge the two boards. The two boards approved the plan in July and the measure was solidified Wednesday, when the Sturgis City Commission approved the merger. The newly created Auditorium Board of Directors will consist of one city commissioner and a maximum of 22 …
Read More »Man arraigned on criminal sexual conduct charges
The Sturgis firefighter arrested Tuesday was arraigned Wednesday afternoon. Joshua Jason Snyder, 36, is being held on $40,000 bond after he was charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count CSC third degree and two counts CSC fourth degree. The alleged encounters began in November of 2013 and continued into this month. Investigators also found sexually explicit …
Read More »Former Three Rivers teacher waives preliminary exam
A former educator who worked in four area school districts waived preliminary examination Tuesday on three counts of alleged criminal sexual conduct involving young men. The case against Three Rivers resident David Wing, 59, was bound over to St. Joseph County Circuit Court for trial. No trial date has been set, pending a pretrial status conference. Wing is charged …
Read More »Sturgis firefighter arrested
A member of the Sturgis Fire Department was arrested Tuesday on multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said details of the matter originated from an alleged inappropriate relationship with a female that allegedly started when the suspect was teaching a class at Sturgis High School. The Sturgis Fire Department administration earlier this month …
Read More »One injured in crash
A Cassopolis resident was injured following a single-vehicle accident Tuesday morning in Jefferson Township. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said John Bright, 58, was traveling west on M-60 near Daily Road shortly after 6 a.m., when an oncoming vehicle crossed the centerline and entered his lane of travel. Bright was forced to take evasive action, and his vehicle left …
Read More »Man dies following drowning incident
An Illinois man hospitalized since a near-drowning incident in a Cass County lake last weekend has died. Cass County officials said Abdi Adan, 24, of Wheaton, died at 1:20 p.m. Monday at South Bend Memorial Hospital. His death was attributed to the near-drowning he suffered Saturday at Dewey Lake in Silver Creek Township. Deputies determined that Abdi was not wearing …
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