MORGANTOWN — A man who led police on a chase into Marion County before crashing into a fence while drunk will spend his sentence on home confinement.
Harold E. Summers, 48, of Fairmont, was sentenced in Monongalia County Circuit Court Tuesday by Judge Russell Clawges.
Summers was sentenced to one to five years in prison with a $2,000 fine for recklessly fleeing, six months in jail with a $500 fine for his first offense DUI and six months in jail with a $200 fine for assaulting a police officer. Clawges ordered the sentences run concurrently and allowed Summers to serve them at his home in Marion County.
He must also pay $1,574.74 in restitution, make a one-time payment of $10 to the Monongalia County Victim Assistance Program, continue substance abuse treatment and seek mental health treatment, Clawges ordered.
Robert Zak, assistant prosecuting attorney, said it was concerning that Summers didn’t appear to take responsibility for his actions in his pre-sentence investigation report and that given the circumstances it was lucky there weren’t additional issues to be addressed.
He said the state recommended one to five years in prison for fleeing, six months for the DUI and six months for assaulting an officer.
On March 25, Summers led a sheriff’s deputy on a chase after the deputy noticed him swerving on University Avenue and activated his lights. Summers went down Smithtown Road and at some points was traveling as fast as 90 MPH, Zak said. At three different times during the chase Summers slowed down in an attempt to get the deputy to crash.
The chase ended when Summers crashed into a fence after crossing into Marion County and continued to try to drive away until he was pulled from his car, Zak said. At the Marion County Sherriff’s Department, he blew a .138 on a breathalyzer.
“All-in-all I just want to apologize for my actions that evening,” Summers told the court.
Summers told the court as a retired military police officer he knew better and said he made a mistake. He apologized to the court directly and said he personally apologized to the deputy.
“All-in-all I just want to apologize for my actions that evening,” Summers said.
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