BRANCH COUNTY — Tasha Grove, 41, of Kalamazoo, asked Circuit Judge Bill O’Grady Monday for probation and a chance to complete Kalamazoo County Drug Court.
O’Grady instead sentenced her to 18 months to 10 years in prison after she pleaded guilty in April to possession of methamphetamine.
Prosecutor Zack Stempien asked for prison time for Grove.
“It would be the longest period of time the defendant would go without committing a crime. When you look at her criminal history, she has consistently engaged in criminal activity over her adult life,” he said.
Grove told the judge, “I don’t think jail or prison is right for me now. I know I have a problem, and I want to solve my problem.”
Grove was arrested with Quinard Churchwell. Grove told the judge the couple was following their drug dealer to Indiana.
Grove said the dealer told them to pull off I-69 in Coldwater around 9 p.m. Oct. 10.
Stempien alleged the two planned to shoplift items to pay for drugs.
Coldwater Police pulled the car over for no license plate and found the vehicle stolen out of Battle Creek.
Meth residue was in a bottle in Grove’s purse. Grove told the judge she hadn’t tried to get off the drug in previous probations, but she was ready now for her pending case in Kalamazoo County.
Released on a recognizance bond in January, Grove was arrested for meth possession in Kalamazoo less than 30 days later. The court revoked her Branch County bond.
Churchwell pleaded no contest to possession of stolen property in February. Judge O’Grady sentenced him on April 7 to 12 months to five years in prison.
O’Grady said both deserved to be in prison for the protection of the community after prior probation failed.
Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Branch County judges sends 2 to prison, says it is for community’s safety
Reporting by Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
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