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By Jef Rietsma Journal Correspondent A woman at the center of the largest animal-hoarding incident in the history of St. Joseph County Animal Control was sentenced Friday. Diane Pitone, 49, appearing before circuit court judge Paul Stutesman, was ordered to pay restitution of nearly $5,000 to the agency. Stutesman, taking into consideration a number of factors, did not order jail time or probation. Appearing via Zoom alongside attorney Stephen Rabaut, Pitone said she never meant to bring harm to any of the more than 150 cats retrieved in summer 2020 from a Fishers Lake home in Park Township. “My intentions were good and I do take full responsibility for a series of bad decisions that led to the current situation,” she said. “I want to apologize to my family, friends, the good people and neighbors of Park Township in St. Joseph County and just assure everybody that I would never, ever do anything like this again. I feel very horrible.” ....
Sturgis Journal Richard Sanford, 68, will serve a year in the St. Joseph County jail with two years probation for the January 2020 traffic-crash death of girlfriend Kathleen Wexler, 69. They had lived together in Three Rivers. St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman said he could not be sure alcohol use was related to the fatal crash that snowy afternoon in the area of Banker Street and Klinger Lake Roads, south of Centreville in Florence Township. Stutesman blamed weather and road conditions for the wreck. “Still, there must be some consequences for your action, he said. Sanford had pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license, causing death. ....