An armed robbery spree in Cass County has guaranteed a Niles man at least 23 years behind bars after he entered pleas of guilty as charged to multiple felony counts adding to a life of crime that apparently started 16-years ago when he was first charged with a home invasion.
Hold-ups at Sunrise Liquor in Howard Township and a Milton Township gasoline station, Lenny's Marathon Service, led to the downfall this time of 40 year old Ralph Fink II of Niles. His guilty plea resulted from 14 separate counts including four counts of armed robbery, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, four counts of assault with a danger weapon (a felonious assault), 2 counts of larceny in a building, two counts of assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer, and a felony firearm charge.
In one of the robberies Fink is accused of wielding a gun, and in the other he was armed with a knife. In addition to guilty pleas on 13 of the charges, he also was charged with being a habitual offender third offense. Fink's habitual prior record included convictions in Ohio in 2002 for aggravated robbery and 2nd degree home invasion in Cass County two years earlier.
As part of the plea agreement, Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz says Fink is required to service a minimum of 23 years in jail. The felony firearm charge and a habitual offender 4th notice were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. The felony firearm charge would have carried a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence.
Cass County Circuit Judge Michael Dodge has taken the plea under advisement due to the agreement having a sentencing component. The judge has set sentencing for June 3rd at 8:30am.
The Michigan State Police, Cass County Sheriff's Department, Berrien County Sheriff's Department and the Niles Police Department all assisted in the investigation.
