ESCANABA — Several defendants were sentenced to prison terms recently in unrelated cases, according to the Delta County Prosecutor’s Office.

Gerald Gordon Rouse, 43, of Gladstone was sentenced on October 20, to 3 years to 6 years in prison following the entry of a plea to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Felonious Assault). Rouse was sentenced as a second habitual offender, subjecting him to one and half the maximum sentence.

On August 26, 2020, officers from Escanaba Department of Public Safety received a report of an assault that was committed by Rouse. The report was made by Rouse’s parole officer. Officers interviewed the victim, who reported that Rouse had assaulted her several times in the course of an argument. At one point, Rouse pushed her to the ground, put his forearm to her neck, and told the victim he would kill her. Rouse also threatened her with a knife during the course of the assault.

Isaac Jacob Trottier, 30, of Bark River, was sentenced on October 18 to 18 months to 20 years in prison following the entry of a plea to Possession of Methamphetamine and Assaulting/Resisting/Obstructing a Police Officer. Trottier was sentenced as a third habitual offender, meaning he has two prior felony convictions and is subject to twice the maximum penalty.

On March 26, Michigan State Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Trottier. The trooper attempted to obtain Trottier’s license and registration, but Trottier could not locate the documents, even going so far as to look under the hood of the vehicle. Trottier was uncooperative and at some point took off on foot. Trottier ignored commands to stop. Trottier eventually tripped and fell. At that time the trooper was able to catch up to Trottier. Trottier continued to fight the trooper. A civilian bystander jumped into assist the trooper, at which point Trottier was brought under control.

As they were standing up, a small plastic baggie fell to the ground. Trottier attempted to bite the trooper’s hand that was holding the baggie. A test of the substance in the baggie revealed it to be methamphetamine.

Rodger Meyer Spencer, 58, of Caspian, was sentenced on October 4 to 8 years to 20 years in prison following the entry of a plea to Delivery/Manufacture of Methamphetamine, Possession of Narcotics, and Operating while Intoxicated. On October 2, 2020, Michigan State Police troopers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle travelling on US 2/41 near Highway M-69 in Delta County. Spencer was found to be operating the vehicle and consented to a search of the vehicle. In the course of their search, Troopers located a duffel bag in the trunk of the vehicle, which Spencer denied was his bag. Inside the duffle bag, tinfoil with suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale with suspected methamphetamine residue, several empty zip lock baggies, and needles. While searching the rest of the vehicle, a $100 bill was located and suspected heroin was located.

Spencer was arrested after undergoing field sobriety tests. While searching Spencer’s person, a large baggie with suspected methamphetamine was located. The methamphetamine was approximately half an ounce. Spencer admitted he was going to be delivering the methamphetamine to someone in Escanaba. Tests were conducted on the suspected methamphetamine and suspected heroin. The methamphetamine came back positive, and the suspected heroin showed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.