A Perrysburg man faces a mandatory license suspension and prison time after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase on Interstate 75.
Jacob Halko, 21, formerly of Bowling Green, appeared Tuesday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
He was indicted in October for failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony, and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them/OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Halko pleaded guilty Tuesday to both charges.
Reger said the felony charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 36 months; however, that sentence is not mandatory.
The felony also has a mandatory license suspension of three years to life with no privileges.
The misdemeanor requires a mandatory three days in jail and up to 180 days with a mandatory driver’s license suspension of six months to three years, Reger said.
A Wood County sheriff’s deputy saw a vehicle parked on the side of U.S. 6 near Sand Ridge Road on Sept. 4, said Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brian Boos.
Halko was sitting in the driver’s seat and showed signs of impairment, Boos said.
According to court documents, the deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol and noted Halko had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. Halko admitted to consuming alcohol.
Halko then fled the area at speeds approaching 100 mph and entered northbound I-75 traveling in the southbound lanes. He crossed the median and exited at Wooster Street then traveled eastbound before turning south on Dunbridge Road. As he attempted to turn west onto Napoleon Road, he was traveling at such a high speed he entered the field. He attempted to reenter Dunbridge Road but crashed into a ditch, according to court documents.
His blood alcohol content was 0.19 when he was tested at the sheriff’s department, Boos said.
Sentencing was set for April 25.
