By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS -- The fear of being caught driving without a license caused Dennis James Bayle, 34, 68251 Meadowview Dr., Edwardsburg to lead Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg Police on a high-speed chase.
They pursued him after seeing a license plate "flapping in the wind."
Speed of nearly 100 miles-an-hour on Oct. 29, 2003, on Redfield Road sent other vehicles off the road and ended with Bayle's vehicle wrecked and upside down, Cass County Judge Michael E. Dodge said in Circuit Court Friday morning.
Attorney James Miller said Bayle's mother said her son has "turned his life around 180 degrees."
For not having a license and unlawful license plates, Bayle was sentenced to 22 days in the Cass County Jail, with credit for 22 days, concurrently. He was also sentenced to 120 days, with credit for 22 for fleeing a police officer in the fourth degree.
He is on probation for 18 months and is to pay $720 in probation fees, $450 court costs, $350 attorney fees, $350 fine, $60 court assessment, $60 to the Crime Victim's Fund
In other sentencings:
Clark allowed a girl to remain inside his place of employment, Happy Landing, assisting her in stealing over $2,000 worth of goods.
He is to pay probation fees of $960, $450 court costs, $350 attorney fees, $60 court assessment, $60 to the Crime Victim's Fund and restitution of $2,056.
After an account of the original sentence date in the newspaper, the superintendent "invited him not to come back," to the Dowagiac District, according to Judge Dodge.
Sharpe then brough his grade point average up from 1.0 in Dowagiac to 3.67 in Eau Claire.
He was sentenced to six months in the Cass County Jail, with credit for one day, which after 60 days, the remainder may be suspended. "It is important you go back to school," Dodge said.
Though the 10-year-old girl's father spoke at his step-son's original sentencing date, saying his daughter was somewhat responsible, Dodge did not agree, considering the difference in age.
Two younger brothers have also been charged similarly in juvenile court.
Sharpe is to pay $450 court costs, a $250 fine, $60 court assessment, and $60 to the Crime Victim's Fund.