CASSOPOLIS — A former champion motocross racer facing charges in four other states was sentenced to prison Friday in Cass Circuit Court on witness intimidation and other charges.

Dominic Aldo Izzi, 28, of Saint Clair, Michigan, pleaded guilty to several felony charges and was sentenced to concurrent terms of two to five years and 23 months to four years in prison. He has credit for 189 days already served and must pay $3,144 in fines and costs.

Izzi pleaded guilty to unlawful driving away of an automobile and domestic violence in connection with a Sept. 3 incident, four counts of resisting and obstructing police and one count of assaulting or obstructing a public officer on Oct. 31, 2018, and one count of witness intimidation and bribing on Nov. 1, 2018. All the incidents occurred in the Cassopolis area.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tiffiny Vohwinkle said Izzi’s victim in the domestic violence case suffered several injuries including a broken nose, broken ribs, ruptured eardrums and lacerations during the Sept. 3 incident.

“The defendant has clear issues with alcohol and drugs He needs to get them under control,” she said.

She noted that Izzi has warrants out for him in Arkansas, California, Georgia and Wisconsin.

“Drugs and alcohol are his downfall,” she said. “To compound it, he pushed the magistrate when he was here in district court when he was asked to take a preliminary breath test. He ran across the street where he was parked and several officers pursued and caught him.”

Defense attorney Daniel Grow said Izzi did not have a normal childhood as he became a professional motocross racer as a youth.

“He became a professional at a young age and then he was discarded and abused by his family and the industry,” he said. “He’s been in bankruptcy and lost everything.”

Grow said Izzi’s problems got worse when he entered into a toxic relationship with the victim, who was working as a counselor but also had substance abuse problems.

“He has a lot of rebuilding to do with his family and others,” he said. “This is a terribly unfortunate set of circumstances. … He’s 28 and never really had a chance to be on his own and develop.”

“I’m extremely sorry,” Izzi said. “I went to Wisconsin to get sober and then got into a highly toxic relationship where we both relapsed. I made poor decisions and once I started digging the hole, I kept digging and didn’t know how to get out of it.”

Circuit Judge Mark Herman noted that Izzi’s problems appear to have started when he was injured and had a shattered foot. That led him to becoming addicted to painkillers and then losing his career, his money and his home.

“But I don’t think drug addiction is an excuse for beating your girlfriend,” he said. “I hope you can learn from this. Even if it takes four years to clear everything up, you’ll still be a young man.”

In other sentencings:

• An Elkhart man convicted of home invasion and drug charges is going to prison.

Kevin Joseph Glasgow, 35, of Elkhart, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree home invasion and possess burglar tools as a habitual offender, conspiracy to possess marijuana, and attempted resisting police. He was sentenced to concurrent terms of seven to 30 years in prison. He has credit for 168 days already served.

The incident occurred Nov. 8, 2018, at locations in Howard Township. Restitution of just over $3,600 was ordered.

• A retired dentist who will be celebrating his 80th birthday next month will be spending the next 30 days in jail for third offense drunk driving.

Daniel Lee Dries, 79, of Forrest Hall Drive in Cassopolis, pleaded guilty to third offense drunk driving and was sentenced to two years’ probation, 30 days in jail, $1,438 in fines and costs and $260 in restitution.

The incident occurred June 9, 2018, on Howell Drive near Shore Acres Road near Cassopolis. A Cass County sheriff’s deputy saw Dries inside a local gas station and saw that he was impaired. The officer then saw him drive away and stopped him a short time later. Dries’ blood alcohol content was found to be .185, more than twice the legal limit.

Judge Herman said his hands were tied when it came to the jail term as a minimum of a 30-day jail term is mandatory for those convicted of third offense drunk driving.