CASSOPOLIS — When a Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy flashed his lights in an attempt to pull over Joseph Vernon last October, he panicked because he thought he didn’t have his license.
So he tried to escape, leading police on a high-speed chase on Indian Lake Road in Dowagiac, blowing stop signs along the way. He hit speeds of more than 100 miles per hour on the chase.
When he finally stopped, it turned out he did have his license — and now another felony on his record.
Vernon was sentenced to 60 days in jail and two years of probation Friday in Cass County Circuit Court. He will receive credit for two days already served.
Prosecutor Victor Fitz called Vernon a “cannonball express,” putting several people’s lives in danger during the chase.
“It was really a trivial reason for running,” he said.
Defense attorney James Miller joked that he recommended to his client to trade in his sports car for a Hyundai or Toyota to slow him down.
“He has good things going for him — a job waiting for him, a baby on the way,” Miller said.
For his part, Vernon apologized.
“It was selfish of me. There are a lot of people I could have hurt,” he said.