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Rayland man gets 3 years in prison for OVI

STEUBENVILLE — David E. Boston, 54, of 1309 county Road 3, Rayland, was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday by Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. after Boston pleaded guilty to felony operating a vehicle under the influence and other charges.

Boston’s trial began on Tuesday morning with jury selection and opening statements. Boston decided to plead guilty just as the first witness took the stand.

In addition to the felony OVI charge, Boston pleaded guilty to felony fleeing and possession of cocaine and misdemeanor charges of falsification and failure to comply with the order of a police officer.

Boston was pulled over on state Route 150, near U.S. Route 250, on May 3 by an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper. The trooper suspected Boston had consumed alcohol. Boston took off in the vehicle when the trooper asked him to get out of the vehicle, according to Assistant Prosecutor Samuel Pate.

The chase went along several roads in southern Jefferson County at speeds in excess of 80 mph before Boston pulled over and fled on foot.

The trooper chased Boston down and tackled him, Pate said, with Boston continuing to resist arrest. Boston got free and the trooper shot Boston with a Taser, Pate said.

Boston again got up and pulled out the prongs of the Taser, jumped over a fence into a farm field and escaped, Pate said.

The trooper said her leg hit an electric farm fence during the struggle, limiting her ability to continue the chase, Pate said.

Boston was arrested the next day at his residence.

Defense attorney Edward Gillison Jr. told the jury in opening statements that Boston admits to all the charges with the exception he was driving under the influence and the fleeing caused risk to the public.

Bruzzese also suspended Boston’s license for 10 years and issued a fine of $1,750.

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