Judge warns defendant not to violate his probation
ONTONAGON -- The teen accused of stealing nearly $25,000 from an elderly Ontonagon County woman was sentenced Monday.
Nineteen-year-old Edward Allan Majurin, the alleged mastermind of the crime, will spend a year in the county jail. In addition to his punishment, Majurin received a warning from Judge Roy Gotham.
"You’re getting the maximum amount of jail time, which has got to tell you what we think of you and your behavior," said Gotham.
Gotham also called out Majurin's apparent lack of remorse and assured the teen wouldn't get any second chances during his three-year probation.
Prior to sentencing, Majurin’s attorney tried to better explain his client's behavior, but the prosecutor shared a similar opinion with the judge.
"I don't think this is the end for Ed," said attorney Jesse Monville. 'I think he can change, I think he's young enough to make changes, and this will afford him the opportunity to do that."
"He wants to get free from drugs; he says he's learned his lesson," said prosecutor Jim Jessup. "I don't think he ever will."
Gotham refused the recommendation to sentence Majurin under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which would allow the defendant to serve his time without having the crime on his permanent record. He said the offense was too serious to dismiss, citing a statement made by the victim earlier to the court about the crime and her long-term suffering.
"He probably saved me from great bodily harm or worse than that by not getting in my car that night. So for that I’m grateful," said the victim.
Majurin was the only one who didn’t have much to say during his hearing. He did offer a quiet apology saying he was sorry, but that he couldn’t take it back.
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