NILES — A Niles man is going to prison after fleeing police earlier this summer.

Caleb Hite Ringer, 18, of Huntly Road in Niles, pleaded guilty to third-degree fleeing and eluding police and was sentenced to 14 to 60 months in prison and $198 in fines and costs. He also was sentenced to a concurrent prison term of 23 to 60 months for violating his probation from a 2018 home invasion conviction.

Ringer has credit for 60 days already served in the fleeing and eluding case and credit for 220 days already served in the probation violation case. The two sentences will run concurrently.

The fleeing and eluding incident occurred June 6 when he was stopped at 13th and Wayne streets in Niles and then fled. He eventually took off running and threw a weapon he had into a wooded area.

Ringer was sentenced earlier this month in Cass County Circuit Court, receiving a 270-day jail term for violating a September 2018 probation on weapons and drug convictions.

Berrien County Trial Judge Charles LaSata said Monday that Ringer not only has had four adult convictions in the last year but also a “serious juvenile record” including assault and weapons charges.

“This is not just one mistake or a bump in the road,” he said.

LaSata dismissed a request from defense attorney Scott Sanford for mental health court given Ringer’s ADHD problems.

“Others with ADHD don’t commit armed robbery or other crimes,” the judge said. “You’ve been making bad decisions for a long time. There’s no history of you being able to work with the court.”

Ringer was emotional when he had a chance to speak.

“This has been the hardest time in my life. I don’t want to do this anymore,” he said. “I want my family to be proud of me. I don’t want to go to prison for a long time. Please don’t send me to prison. Give me one chance.”

Another Niles man was also sentenced to prison. Dustin Michael Dokey, 32, of Howard Street in Niles, pleaded guilty to second offense use of meth and third degree fleeing and eluding police. He was given credit for time served on the meth file and a sentence of 14 to 60 months on the fleeing file. He must pay $396 in fines and costs.

The meth incident occurred Nov. 28, 2018, when he failed a drug test at the Niles courthouse. The fleeing incident occurred May 16 at Parkway and French streets in Niles.

The current prison sentence will be consecutive to any sentence he gets for violating his parole from an earlier prison sentence in 2017 for attempted assault by strangulation.

Judge LaSata noted that Dokey has had six juvenile and 23 adult convictions.

“Your record paints a pretty bleak picture,” he said. “It’s within your power to change, but right now you’re serving life in prison by the installment plan.”

Also Monday:

• A Buchanan woman was given probation and jail on a meth charge.

Amy Sue Bowker, 39, of E. Galien-Buchanan Road in Buchanan, pleaded guilty to second-offense use of meth and was sentenced to two years probation, 30 days in jail and $838 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred Dec. 8, 2018, in the Rural King parking lot on S. 11th Street in Niles Township.

Judge LaSata acknowledged that Bowker is doing better in her life as she has stopped using drugs, gone to counseling and gotten a job, but said she is doing just what people her age should be doing.

“You’re fortunate I’m not giving you 120 days in jail,” he said.

• Andrew Joseph Tate, 40, of W. Roe Street in Buchanan, pleaded guilty to illegal entry and assault and battery and was sentenced to one-year probation, credit for three days already served and $695 in fines and costs.

The incident occurred April 13 at a home in Niles Township.