Niles man gets jail time for carrying concealed weapon

NILES — A Niles man who was arrested for carrying a loaded stolen gun was sentenced to jail Monday in Berrienn County Trial Court.

Gladger Lee Ross, 64, of Niles, pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to 20 days in jail with credit for one day served and $198 in fines and costs.   His firearm was forfeited.

The incident occurred Oct. 28, 2023 in Niles.

Defense attorney Ross Holec said Ross has not been in trouble for many years.

“He’s learned to become a law abiding citizen since his previous convictions,” he said. “He made a mistake here, we ask for fines and costs with no jail.”

Ross apologized and said he was embarrassed about his actions.

Judge Smith agreed that Ross hadn’t been in trouble for “a significant period” of time. She said however that she was concerned that he had a gun that had been stolen out of South Bend and that the gun was loaded with a round in the chamber.

“This was a dangerous situation, you were combative with police,” she said. “Frequently, those carrying a gun with a bullet in the chamber don’t get just fines and costs.”

In other sentencings, two Niles women were sentenced.

Susan Marie Bowker, 52, of Niles, pleaded guilty to use of methamphetamine and resisting and obstructing police and was sentenced to credit for three days served and $553 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred March 15 in Niles Township.

Defense attorney Jason Engram said that Bowker recently had her leg amputated and is not using illegal drugs any more. “She’s in a wheelchair, she’s not going to be fighting anyone and not going to be using illegal drugs,” he said.

Bowker apologized for her actions. She said she had been clean from drugs for a few months.

“You said you stopped using drugs in 2022 and then you did it again and got into trouble,” Judge Smith said. “You certainly have a track record resisting police. Until you learn not to do that, you’re going to continue coming back before the court.  You have to stop resisting police, that’s the bottom line.”

Courtney Alice Nelson, 22, of Niles, pleaded guilty to larceny by false pretenses $200 to $1,000 and use of cocaine and was sentenced to 18 months in probation, 32 days in jail with credit for 24 days served and $788 in fines, costs and restitution.

She was also sentenced to concurrent jail terms for two contempt of court charges, for coming to court in June while high on drugs.

The incident occurred July 30 through Aug. 12, 2023 in Niles.

Judge Smith told Nelson that she needs to be ready and willing to do the work to beat her drug addiction.

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