A West Jefferson man charged for theft of a firearm and a high-speed chase was sent to prison Monday in the Champaign County Common Pleas Court.
Kristapher B. Davis, 25, received a maximum consecutive sentence of six years in prison for third degree felony charges of burglary and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer stemming from conduct on May 4.
According to a court statement filed in the Champaign County Municipal Court, an officer with the Mechanicsburg Police Department was contacted by dispatch on that date to assist on a suspicious person call. A village resident informed dispatch that a suspicious person arrived at her door looking for gas for his car.
As the officer searched for the suspect, he was informed the suspect’s vehicle was in the driveway of a Rosedale Road residence. As a resident was talking to police, a black Chevrolet Malibu driven by Davis sped past them.
The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating his lights and sirens and reportedly saw Davis commit multiple traffic offenses including not stopping at a stop sign or using a turn signal as he turned left onto state Route 29 while traveling at a high rate of speed.
During Monday’s hearing, Champaign County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi stated Davis traveled at speeds of 90 miles per hour.
The pursuit continued through Apple Farm Service, 12446 state Route 29, where Davis stopped the vehicle in the parking lot and left on foot. Davis eventually was taken into custody after initially refusing to obey commands.
Upon conducting an inventory of the vehicle before it was towed, police found jewelry, money and an Iver Johnson Revolver, among other items. The items were identified as the same items that were reported missing by a resident who said his home was burglarized.
Davis pleaded guilty to the burglary and failure to comply charges on June 20 during which six charges and four firearm specifications were dismissed.
Talebi said Davis attributed his conduct to substance abuse, but he stated Davis was not thinking of anyone else but himself while committing these crimes. During the sentencing hearing, Kenneth Davis, the owner of the firearm, spoke on the psychological impact Davis’ conduct had on him.
Talebi noted the victim and the defendant are not related.
Kristapher Davis appeared in court in a yellow Tri-County Regional Jail outfit, which indicates disciplinary action was taken against him. When Judge Nick Selvaggio asked why he was in the outfit, Kristapher Davis replied he failed a drug test by using cocaine.
As part of the sentence, no fine was imposed but Kristapher Davis’ driver’s license was suspended for seven years. Upon his release from prison, he is subject to post release control for up to three years.
