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St. CLAIRSVILLE -- Darrin Scott Borsos will spend the next two and a half years behind bars after being convicted of leading a police officer on a high-speed chase along Old Cadiz Pike Road.
Borsos, 57, of Martins Ferry was convicted of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony that occurred July 3. The trial took place Oct. 18-19.
During sentencing, Assistant Prosecutor Chris Gagin called the pursuing officer, Robert Shreve, to the stand. Shreve said the pursuit lasted about 15-20 minutes in total. Shreve, who was working as a Bridgeport police officer at the time, said he pursued a vehicle from the bottom of U.S. 250 to Buckeye Run Road -- where he broke off the chase due to the high rate of speed and danger the public -- followed by searching until Borsos' vehicle was found, crashed against a tree.
Shreve said the total distance of the westbound car chase was about 2 miles, adding that the posted speed limit on U.S. 250 was 25 mph and Borsos' vehicle was traveling at about 45 or 50 mph, eventually increasing to 55 mph on a dangerous stretch of roadway.
"It's a road at an incline with all kinds of turns and swerves," Shreve said. "I witnessed several marked lanes violations. Mr. Borsos also ran several stop signs."
The officer said several eastbound cars were encountered during the westbound pursuit. He said at one point there was a vehicle ahead of them and Borsos' vehicle went into the eastbound lane to pass and reenter the westbound lane. Shreve followed suit. He said he witnessed nothing being struck but said he considered this a "dangerous" pursuit.
Shreve elaborated after the hearing, saying he had activated his lights and indicated that Borsos' vehicle should stop after seeing the vehicle commit a marked lanes violation.
He said the vehicle was eventually discovered in the morning.
Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said the abandoned vehicle was found near not only the site where the officers had to give up the chase but also near Borsos' house. He said the vehicle was owned by a member of Borsos' family.
"When we found the vehicle, we found mail inside the vehicle with Borsos' name on the mail. We were able to retrieve an address for that mail, and that's when we initiated our arrest," he said. "We believe he was intoxicated at that time (of the pursuit). Our belief is he was probably trying to avoid an OVI."
During cross-examination, Assistant Public Defender Aaron Miller said Shreve did not mention several of these details during the trial. Shreve said he was not asked. Moore also said Shreve had indicated Borsos' speed had reached 65 mph during the trial.
Under further questioning, Shreve said he had met with the prosecutor prior to the sentencing date but did not discuss his testimony.
Gagin spoke further.
"This defendant has shown absolutely no remorse, continues to maintain that he was not even driving this vehicle at the time of the chase and/or the crash," Gagin said. "He was previously convicted of an attempted failure to comply with the direction of an officer.
"Based on that record. Based on the dangerousness, the speeds on the very tight and windy roads, the state is requesting a 36-month sentence."
Miller asked Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra to compare Shreve's testimony at trial to his testimony during sentencing and asked that community controls or a sentence of 1.5 years.
"My client maintains his innocence. He exercises his Constitutional right to a jury trial, a jury did find him guilty of this offense," he said.
Borsos did not comment.
Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra said the pre-sentence investigation report indicated a high-chance of re-offending. He said Borsos' record includes prior episodes of attempting to evade responsibility for criminal conduct. He also has felony convictions of drug possession and attempted failure to comply, along with misdemeanor convictions for operating a vehicle under the influence, resisting arrest, hit-skip and obstructing official business.
"Your conduct in this case is similar to that which resulted in your prior convictions," he said. "There's a pattern of alcohol and drug abuse that I believe contributed to this offense. ... There's been no showing of genuine remorse."
Vavra suspended Borsos' driver's license for three years, starting that day.