Dayton man sentenced in Highland County failure to comply case
Less than two weeks after being indicted by a Highland County grand jury, a Dayton man was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.
Paul D. Baker, 41, was indicted Aug. 6 on charges of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony; and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. He pleaded guilty Aug. 16 to the failure to comply charge, with the drug possession charge dismissed.
According to a bill of particulars, a Highland County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a “report of a suspicious vehicle” in the Lynchburg area on June 7. When the deputy attempted to make a traffic stop, Baker allegedly said “no” through his open window and began to flee, leading the officer on a pursuit through the village of Lynchburg and into Clinton County. Other Highland and Clinton County deputies eventually joined the pursuit.
During the alleged chase, Baker “began to swerve into the oncoming lane of travel,” “failed to obey [a] posted stop sign and ran said stop sign,” “exceeded speeds of 80 mph in a 55 mph zone” and “drove into the oncoming lane of travel while other motorists were present.” It was also alleged that Baker “was traveling at a speed of 70 mph in a posted 35 mph zone” when entering the city of Wilmington.
Baker was eventually stopped “on state Route 134 near the state Route 73 overpass,” where he then “attempted to flee on foot” before being arrested, the bill of particulars alleges.
According to court records, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss sentenced Baker to a definite determinate term of 24 months in prison, with jail time credit of 70 days. Baker’s driver’s license was ordered to be suspended for three years, beginning Aug. 16.
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