An Ohio man was sentenced to 13 years in prison in Superior Court III on Tuesday morning for his part in incidents that started with a high speed chase Dec. 2.
Shortly after midnight Dec. 2, Jeremy Lebron Peters, 23, of 4739 Lodgeland Drive, Columbus, Ohio, was stopped by Indiana State Police officer Luke Waikel in the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for speeding. As Waikel approached Peters' vehicle on the passenger's side, the suspect took off.
The resulting chase reached speeds of 90 mph, with Peters running several traffic lights as he approached Warsaw city limits.
Peters attempted to turn into the Kmart plaza at 3350 U.S. 30 but instead crashed. A foot chase then began, with Peters heading across U.S. 30 and toward the intersection of Old 30 and Kosciusko Drive.
He discarded a Glock 9 mm handgun he had in his possession by throwing it onto the roof of Fellowship Baptist Church, 1838 E. Kosciusko Drive. Peters was captured shortly afterward in that area.
The gun was later retrieved by officer Phil Reed of the Warsaw Police Department. The weapon had one round in the chamber and several in the clip.
Peters was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail with a $10,000 bond and charged initially with resisting/fleeing law enforcement and reckless driving.
When Peters' background was researched, the charges were upgraded to resisting law enforcement, a Class D felony; carrying a handgun without a license, a Class A misdemeanor; carrying a handgun without a license as a felon, a Class C felony; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Class B felony.
In court, it was revealed that Peters has an extensive criminal background, although eight cases have either been dismissed or were never filed. Two cases are still pending in Ohio. It was a 2007 felony conviction for dealing in a controlled substance which prompted the recent felony handgun convictions.
Peters was sentenced to three years on the resisting/fleeing law enforcement charge, with the handgun charges combined bringing a 10-year sentence. Both sentences are to run consecutively.
He's received good time credit since he's been at Kosciusko County Jail.
It hasn't been disclosed where Peters will serve his sentence.
Fines normally assessed for such crimes were waived by the court.
Peters was represented by local attorney John D. Barrett, with Daniel Hampton representing the state. Peters was found by the court to be considered an indigent person, so further appeals and legal work will be taken care of by the state.
