Mount Pleasant man gets 10 to 20 years for Warriner break-ins

Mount Pleasant resident Donald Morrison was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison Monday for a series of burglaries in Warriner Hall that occurred over the summer.

Morrison was sentenced under the criminal enterprise charge brought against him after various amounts of cash and other items were reported stolen at Central Michigan University’s administrative building in July, said Lance Dexter, Isabella County Trial Court administrator.

Morrison, 52, also is receiving another 10 to 15 years for second-degree criminal sexual conduct against an 11-year-old girl.

The sexual conduct occurred around the same time period as the burglaries.

About $200 was stolen from more than 15 offices in Warriner Hall over the summer during the breaking and enterings.

It was later discovered Morrison had stolen keys to the offices while they were open. Mary Bellinger, a CMU custodian, testified in court that she saw him alone in a vacant office twice.

Investigations by CMU Police followed later after numerous thefts were reported from several other CMU employees.

The sentencing was brought about after a plea agreement was reached in Trial Court Judge Mark Duthie’s court.

“Morrison has been involved in criminal activity in our community for 30 years,” said Isabella County Prosecutor Larry Burdick. “Due to that background, we felt it necessary to charge him not just with several counts of breaking and entering, but the more serious charge of conducting a criminal enterprise.”

During that 30-year time period, Morrison received 16 other convictions.

Burdick said the criminal enterprise charge has earned Morrison a longer prison sentence, in addition to his criminal background and the separate sexual assault charge.