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LISBON -- An Alliance man who fled from police in New Waterford two years ago was sentenced to a year in prison by Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam on Thursday morning.
Michael A. Howell, 42, Alliance, previously pleaded guilty to failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. The charge carries a possible maximum sentence of three years in prison, a $10,000 fine and a lifetime license suspension.
During the sentencing hearing for Howell, Chief Assistant County Prosecutor Ryan Weikart recommended the 12-month sentence, noting this was not the first time Howell had fled from authorities.
In New Waterford on May 3, 2019, Howell failed to stop for a patrol unit with lights and sirens, reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph while committing multiple traffic violations and passing another motorist, endangering others.
His defense attorney Jennifer Gorby pointed out Howell has only traffic offenses, no further felonies since this happened. Despite concerns that Howell was uncooperative with the probation department doing his presentence investigation, Gorby said it was more of a problem that the probation department was conducting the interview by phone due to the pandemic.
"I was a bit distraught," Howell said. "It was my daughter's first birthday and I was in jail."
He continued to say he actually had a heart attack and had to be transported to the hospital around that time. Howell said he was concerned about potentially losing his license, adding you cannot work without one.
"I apologize for this situation when it happened," Howell said, adding that he has had problems getting his license back in the past and is "not a career criminal."
Washam said he could overlook Howell not completing his pre-sentencing investigation, but not the charge that landed him in trouble to begin with, which included endangering himself and others. Besides the year in prison, Washam suspended his license for 10 years.
Gorby was given additional time to calculate Howell's jail credit, which was listed at 52 days. Gorby said she believes he is entitled about 100 days.
djohnson@mojonews.com