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Citing five aggravating factors and no mitigating factors, Kosciusko Superior Court III Judge Joe Sutton recently sentenced a South Whitley man to 6-1/2 years in prison and fined him more than $10,000.
Scottie J. Ratliff, 27, of 2425 S. CR 950W, South Whitley, was found guilty during a September jury trial of driving while intoxicated, a Class A misdemeanor; driving while having a blood-alcohol level of .10 percent or greater, a Class C misdemeanor; resisting law enforcement, a Class D felony; and possession of marijuana, a Class D felony.
Ratliff was arrested July 17 after leading police on a chase in the Burket area which went through residential yards and the Burket Elementary schoolyard before Ratliff drove his vehicle into a cornfield. Ratliff then fled the scene on foot, but was later located - with the help of a K-9 unit - near the intersection of CRs 700W and 500S. A passenger in Ratliff's car, Timmy Gibson, 39, of South Whitley, was unconscious in the vehicle at the scene after Ratliff fled.
Also, police found four bags containing a total of 132 grams of marijuana in Ratliff's car. Ratliff's blood-alcohol level at the time of his arrest was .137 percent; a level of .10 percent or greater is considered intoxicated in Indiana.
Sutton cited Ratliff's criminal history, his "total disregard for the safety of the citizens of the county" and that he inflicted property damage to multiple victims among the aggravating circumstances in the case.
For the purposes of sentencing, Sutton merged the two drunk driving offenses, ordering Ratliff to serve one year in jail, of which six months will be suspended on the condition that he make restitution of $1,402.50 to Mike Nelson for property damage resulting from the incident that led to Ratliff's arrest. Also, Ratliff must pay a $500 fine, $125.50 in court costs and a $200 alcohol interdiction fee. His driving privileges are suspended for two years for the drunk driving offenses.
For resisting law enforcement, Ratliff was sentenced to three years in prison and fined $10,000 and, for the marijuana charge, he received a three-year prison term, was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and a $200 drug interdiction fee, and his driving privileges are suspended 180 days.
The three prison sentences were ordered served consecutively.
Ratliff indicated that he would appeal the sentencing and David Kolbe entered an appearance to serve at Ratliff's attorney in the appeal process. Mark C. Sherer was Ratliff's court-appointed attorney during the trial.
