A Knox man was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday morning after pleading guilty in a plea agreement on charges of resisting law enforcement as a Level 6 Felony and operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering as a Class A Misdemeanor.
Dain Oyler, 30, admitted to Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall that on May 30 of this year he did not stop after a Knox City Police Department officer attempted a traffic stop after observing a traffic infraction. A police pursuit ensued where Oyler admitted traveling in his BMW up to 130 mph on county roads to escape the officer. When the BMW crashed into a field at the intersection of 300 E. and Toto Road, he left the vehicle on foot and continued to elude officers. He was subsequently taken into custody and jailed in the Starke County Justice Center.
Oyler said he was highly emotional that day and consumed alcohol to an excess. He admitted that his actions were reckless and impulsive and regretted what he had done. He commented that he would like to seek treatment for his issues with alcohol and drugs.
Judge Hall told Oyler that those actions caused an extreme danger to the public. If the incident had occurred during an earlier part of the day when more people were out driving, it could have caused fatalities. It also endangered officers participating in the pursuit.
Starke County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Micah Cox and Defense Attorney Blair Todd argued how Oyler could serve a negotiated 18-month capped discretionary sentence. In the end, Judge Hall sentenced Oyler to 18 months on the charge of resisting law enforcement and 12 months on the charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering. Six months was suspended to be served on probation. Those sentences will be served concurrently, or at the same time.
Six months remaining of that sentence will be served at the Starke County Justice Center. With good time credit, he has nearly completed this portion of his sentence. Another six months will be served on home detention with electronic monitoring through Starke County Court Services. Officials there may modify the level of supervision as they see fit if they find Oyler has complied with all rules and regulations. Oyler may also petition the court at any time for modification of the sentence.