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Darrin Scott Borsos will spend the next two and a half years behind bars after being convicted of leading a police officer on a high-speed chase along Old Cadiz Pike Road.
Borsos, 57, of Martins Ferry was convicted of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony that occurred July 3. The trial in Belmont County Common Pleas court took place Oct. 18-19.
During sentencing, Assistant Prosecutor Chris Gagin called the pursuing officer, Robert Shreve, to the stand. Shreve said the pursuit lasted about 15-20 minutes in total. Shreve, who was working as a Bridgeport police officer at the time, said he pursued a vehicle from the bottom of U.S. 250 to Buckeye Run Road, where he broke off the chase due to danger to the public. Borsos' vehicle was later found crashed against a tree.
Shreve said the total distance of the westbound chase was about 2 miles, adding the posted speed limit on U.S. 250 was 25 mph and Borsos' vehicle was traveling at about 45 or 50 mph, eventually increasing to 55 mph on a dangerous stretch of roadway.
Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said the abandoned vehicle was found near not only the site where the officers had to give up the chase but also near Borsos' house. He said the vehicle was owned by a member of Borsos' family.
"We believe he was intoxicated at that time (of the pursuit). Our belief is he was probably trying to avoid an OVI," Flanagan said.
Assistant Public Defender Aaron Miller asked Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra to compare Shreve's testimony at trial to his testimony during sentencing and asked for community controls or a sentence of 1 1/2 years.
"My client maintains his innocence. He exercised his constitutional right to a jury trial, a jury did find him guilty of this offense," he said.
Borsos did not comment.
Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra said the pre-sentence investigation report indicated a high-chance of re-offending. He said Borsos' record includes prior episodes of attempting to evade responsibility for criminal conduct. He also has felony convictions of drug possession and attempted failure to comply, along with misdemeanor convictions for operating a vehicle under the influence, resisting arrest, hit-skip and obstructing official business.
"Your conduct in this case is similar to that which resulted in your prior convictions," he said. "There's a pattern of alcohol and drug abuse that I believe contributed to this offense. ... There's been no showing of genuine remorse."
Vavra suspended Borsos' driver's license for three years, starting that day.