SOUTH BEND – Three extra guards stood by Friday as Dale E. Hale was sentenced to 100 months for felony eluding and 29 months for attempted assault on an officer. His time was sentenced to run concurrently for those two offenses, but consecutively following the 48 months he is now serving for one count of escape with the Department of Corrections.

On April 26 of last year a chase ensued after an officer attempted to pull over Hale driving a Chevy pickup. Deputies at one point attempted to end the pursuit by putting up spike strips. When Hale got to the spike strips he spun his vehicle around, nearly hitting a school bus with children on board.

Sheriff John Didion spoke at Friday’s sentencing saying, “Mr. Hale recklessly endangered the whole community just as school was being let out. As he testified at trial, he was willing to do anything to get the cops to back off. At that point his vehicle became a weapon and he shows no remorse.”

David Burke the prosecuting attorney for the Pacific County said, “this is the most egregious and horrendous felony elude ever seen in Pacific County Superior Court.”

The attempted assault on an officer was made when Hale was traveling eastbound and crossed two lanes of traffic attempting to hit Undersheriff Ron Clark who was pointed south near the west-bound lane and pulled off the road as far as possible. Hale came within inches of hitting Clark’s vehicle, which seemed to be the theme of Hale’s rampage.

Earlier in the pursuit, Hale nearly hit a retired law enforcement officer and a minister. He also nearly killed a group of people when his vehicle came crashing to the ground after going airborne over a canal. Hale testified at his trial, “people scattered for their lives.”

Hale had a few words to say to the judge and courtroom Friday before his sentence was handed down. “I would like to apologize to everyone in the courtroom. This is such a small community, there is no one in here today who is not involved or who did not have someone they loved on the streets that day. I did try to swerve to miss everyone. Mr. Burke said this was the most horrendous pursuit ever seen yet there were 46 jurors who had never heard of me or my case, and the cops were right behind me doing the same thing.” Mr. Hale also stated that the sheriff has been to court three times and this is the first time he has worn a suit. “I don’t know how things are run down here. I’m from the city.”

While handing down the sentence Judge Sullivan told Hale, “The police weren’t breaking the law by following you. You may be partly remorseful. I don’t know if you’re sorry or just sorry you got caught. I don’t think you’re as remorseful as you would like me to believe.”

Hale is planning on appealing. This offense counts as a strike against him. He has no prior strikes.

Also sentenced was John Scott. Scott was sentenced to 15 days with seven already served. Scott was convicted of third degree assault. Scott was at the South Bend emergency room with complaints of a headache. When the E.R. refused to dispense more drugs than prescribed he became irate. During the dispute Chief Dave Eastham was pushed which resulted in Scott getting hit in the head. Chief Eastham sustained no marks or injuries.

A plea agreement was reached in the case of state vs. Anthony L. Cordero. Cordero was sentenced to 24 months for four counts of burglary. A victim spoke saying, “You broke into my house twice. Once was not enough, you had to do it twice. You not only stole, you destroyed. You took jewelry, mementos. You took rings given to my wife by her mother-in-law before she died. You destroyed pictures, things that can never be replaced, along with my personal computer.”

When asked if he had a drug problem, Cordero admitted to being addicted to acid and marijuana.

Mr. Cordero had no prior felony history.