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Jason Spears with his attorney, Timothy Hayes.
Giggling defendant does not impress judge.
#OceanaCountyNews #CourtNews
By Allison Scarbrough. Editor.
HART — A 22-year-old Muskegon man who was smiling and giggling during his pretrial hearing in 27th Circuit Court Monday, March 13, did not impress Judge Robert D. Springstead, who took the bench for the first time in Oceana County.
“You have not impressed me at all this morning,” said Springstead, the former Newaygo County prosecutor who was recently sworn in as 27th Circuit Court judge following the retirement of Judge Anthony A. Monton. “You show very little respect for what is going on here today,” the judge said to Jason Lee Spears of 3562 Algonquin Drive.
The Honorable Robert D. Springstead of 27th Circuit Court.
Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon offered a plea agreement in which Spears could plead guilty to fleeing and eluding a police officer, and in exchange, a charge of felon in possession of a firearm and a second-offense habitual offender designation would be dismissed.
Spears, who appeared with his attorney Timothy Hayes, accepted the plea agreement and pleaded guilty to fleeing and eluding, which is a five-year felony. In exchange for his plea, Bizon agrees to recommend capping Spears’ jail time at four months.
During his testimony, as Spears was smiling and giggling, Springstead asked, “Is this funny?”
“No,” Spears answered.
Spears testified that on September 23, 2016 he led police on a high-speed chase that lasted several miles, beginning in Greenwood Township and ending in Muskegon County. He testified that he was driving 80-100 mph.
Sentencing is set for April 24 at 9 a.m.
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