News Photo by Julie Riddle Turner Terry, right, stands with attorney Bill Pfeifer in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court on Monday.

ALPENA — Giving a repeat offender one more chance would make people mad, Judge Ed Black said on Monday, offering that last chance anyway to defendant Anthony Stokes.

“I have almost no reason to do this except that you and I have grown old together,” Black told Stokes, 48, in Alpena’s 26th Circuit Court, giving Stokes a year in jail on a probation violation that could have earned him prison time.

Stokes told the court that, after a substantial criminal history bringing him to the court’s attention many times over the last two decades, he was ready to correct his behavior.

“One last try, man,” he told Black, asking to not be sent to prison for the probation violation.

Acknowledging that he would probably receive angry phone calls from a probation officer and others tired of giving Stokes chances, Black said he would not send the man to prison for the violation but would do so if Stokes violated again.

“I still believe in you,” Black told Stokes after the hearing. “Prove me right.”

Also in court on Monday:

∫ A tough start to life is no excuse for violence, Black told Jasson Carey, 38, sentencing Carey to two years in prison for an outburst which injured a police officer.

Officer Lincoln Suszek, of the Alpena Police Department, told Black that Carey had resisted arrest with the most violent reaction the officer had ever seen, causing injuries that sent Suszek to the hospital.

At a separate time, Carey also became aggressive with hospital workers, Black said.

Carey’s long history of assaultive behavior may be tied to early trauma in his life, but, “At some point in time, you have to take responsibility for yourself,” Black told Carey, saying the defendant is capable of controlling his behavior.

Going below the maximum suggested by court guidelines, Black sentenced Carey to 24 months to four years in prison, with a stern warning that, “If you come back down this road, I’m going to max you out every time I see you.”

∫ Turner Terry, 31, admitted he intended to deliver methamphetamine when he drove from Lansing to Alpena County in September.

Police found the drug in a fanny pack in Terry’s possession when responding to a complaint about an incident between Terry and another person in the vehicle in which they were traveling.

Charges of domestic violence and operating without a valid license were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Terry is scheduled for sentencing in July.

∫ Erin Cook, 47, said she wants to marry the man with whom she was arrested in December 2020 when the two were caught with methamphetamine and drug distribution paraphernalia.

Police found meth, along with a scale and knife, rubber and plastic straws, and other items related to narcotics use and trafficking, in the possession of Cook and Darrin Clemons, 52, during a traffic stop.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to delivery of meth. Clemons is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

Cook initially agreed to a guilty plea on the understanding that she would testify against Clemons if his case went to trial.

During her sentencing hearing on Monday, Cook said she has been trying to process the necessary paperwork to marry Clemons.

Black sentenced Cook to one year in jail, with credit for 163 days served, and two years’ probation.

Clemons and Cook are both lodged in the Alpena County Jail.

∫ Black heard testimony from an Alpena County minor who said Derek Knapp, 32, sexually assaulted her several times, beginning in February of 2020, when the girl was 13.

Black said the girl and a police officer, who also testified Monday, gave adequate evidence to move Knapp forward toward trial on charges of first- and second-degree sexual assault.

∫ Black sentenced Riley Dolliver, 19, to 80 hours of community service for participating in a theft.

Two days’ worth of those hours must take place at the home of the victim, Black said, telling the courtroom of a similar offense and subsequent punishment from his own youth.

Dolliver would undoubtedly hate having to work for and show respect to the victim, but, said Black, “It had an impact on me, and I hope it has an impact on you.”

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693 or jriddle@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jriddleX.