A Niles man who led police on a high-speed chase on south 17th Street will serve time in jail for the crime.

Anthony Downey, 18, was charged with fleeing and eluding a police officer in the fourth degree and receiving and concealing stolen property. He pleaded guilty to the charges on Aug. 9. On Monday, he was sentenced by Judge Angela Pasula to serve an 80-day concurrent sentence for the crimes in the Berrien County Jail and two years of probation.

Downey was represented in court by defense attorney Scott Sanford.

The crime stems from an incident that occurred on July 27 when Downey was picked up in a stolen 2010 gray Pontiac. Though he knew it was stolen, Downey said he later began driving the vehicle.

At 2:44 a.m., a reserve officer with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department saw the gray Pontiac pull into the parking lot at Brandywine High School, 1700 Bell Ave.

According to court records, the vehicle came to a sudden stop and swiftly turned around when the officer began getting into his patrol vehicle. The officer reported that the vehicle had no noticeable plates and he intended to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect inside the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed, accelerating to  more than 90 miles per hour.

While speeding, the car ran a stop sign as it entered S. 17th Street The pursuit continued south on S. 17th Street while the officer had his lights and siren on.

The officer observed that the vehicle was using both sides of the lanes throughout the chase. As the pursuit approached S. 17th and Bertrand streets, the vehicle attempted to slow, ran a stop sign and then crashed into an embankment. The vehicle went air born and came to a halt after smashing into some trees in the 1700 block of Bertrand.

Police removed Downey from the driver’s seat without incident. Another passenger was also in the car, who Downey said had told him the vehicle was stolen.

Pasula said Downey was lucky the chase had not ended differently.

“You are lucky you did not kill yourself or someone else,” Pasula said. “You are very fortunate you are not here on a much more serious charge or that you are not serving this time in the cemetery.”

Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the flee and elude. The vehicle was reported stolen on July 27 from Express Auto, 2406 S. 11th St. The car had an Express Auto sticker on it and a manager from the company confirmed the VIN number of the vehicle, which matched the stolen car’s number. Inside the car, police also found a backpack with an RC remote control car that had been reported stolen from a customer’s car at Express Auto.

“This is a decision you made completely sober,” Pasula said. “They say, ‘you turned this car into a lethal weapon.’”

Assistant Prosecutor Cortney O’Malley-Septoski said Downey was a young man who understood the seriousness of his actions.

For his part, Downey said he regretted his decisions that night to get in the stolen car.

“Your honor, I’m sorry,” Downey said. “I’m going to try not to get in any more trouble. I promise this is the last time I will be here. It was a stupid mistake.”

Downey emphasized that he did not steal the car, but was picked up in the car. According to court records, Downey would not supply more information on the person he stated stole the vehicle.

Downey has one prior juvenile criminal sexual conduct conviction.

Downey has credit for 47 days of jail. He was also ordered to undergo a mental health assessment, complete the KPEP program and must obtain his high school diploma or GED. 

Restitution will be determined at a later time.

“No driving,” Pasula said. “Not anytime. Not anywhere and for any reason.”’

Also sentenced Monday:

• Lecarrington Underwood, 30, of Niles, was sentenced to two years of probation and 45 days on the DOC tether for the charge of fleeing and eluding a police officer in the fourth degree.

• Corvell Hardnett, 28, of Coloma, was sentenced to two years of probation and 45 days in the Berrien County Jail for the charge of fleeing and eluding a police officer in the fourth degree. He has credit for two days served.

• Lee Sharper, 35, was sentenced to 30 days in the Berrien County Jail for the charge of larceny less than $200.