A Niles driver who was intoxicated at the time he was involved in an accident that seriously injured another person will spend more than a year behind bars.

On Monday, Berrien County Judge Dennis Wiley sentenced 40-year-old Michael Charles Morgan to a minimum of 18 months and a maximum of 60 months in state prison on one count of felony of operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury.

According to court documents, Morgan had a blood alcohol content over the legal limit when the vehicle he was driving hit another vehicle containing an elderly couple June 19 at Walton Road near Range Line Road in Niles Township.

Morgan showed signs of intoxication and said, “I’m drunk” and that he “drank a pint of whiskey,” according to court documents.

Wiley, reading from court documents, said Morgan was so violent that he had to be physically restrained in order for a blood sample to be taken from him.

Morgan’s blood alcohol content was .189, according to court documents.

Prior to hearing his sentence, Morgan said he felt really sorry for what happened and apologized to the victims and his family.

“I really screwed up,” he said.

Wiley told Morgan he was lucky no one was killed.

“You put those people’s lives in jeopardy,” the judge said.

Assistant Prosecutor Jerry Vigansky said the elderly victims are still recovering from the accident, both physically and mentally.

Court documents revealed that the female victim sustained “incapacitating injuries” and had to be hospitalized, while the male victim reported pain, but did not require hospitalization.

Also Monday, 26-year-old Shawn Ryan Martin, of Buchanan, was sentenced to 18 to 60 months in state prison on one count of felony domestic violence third offense.

According to court documents, Martin assaulted his girlfriend during an argument Oct. 11 in Buchanan.