Beatrice man to serve state prison term for 2022 police pursuit

BEATRICE – A 35-year-old Beatrice man has been ordered to serve a six-year, six-month state prison sentence.  Douglas May was sentenced Wednesday in Gage County District Court for operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, driving during revocation, tampering with evidence, drug possession and possession of marijuana. An allegation of being a habitual criminal was dropped, earlier.

May’s attorney, Benjamin Murray said his client understood a shot at probation was not likely.  "He's in a position where probation just won't work. He's facing quite a lengthy sentence in his Lancaster County District Court case. So, we would ask only that any terms of incarceration be served concurrently."

District Judge Rick Schreiner ordered the separate sentences on the charges to be served consecutively.  "You have a significant criminal history. You also have a history of acting selfishly when law enforcement tries to contact you. In this case, you were driving down Court Street at speeds of up to 80-miles-per-hour, having no regard for anybody in this community but yourself....which seems to be a pattern over your life."

May was considered a high risk in several categories in a pre-sentence investigation, including risk to re-offend.

In April of last year, Beatrice Police arrested May after a vehicle pursuit. He fled from his vehicle in the 600 block of West Mary, but was arrested after a short foot pursuit. At the time, police said he had three prior charges of flight to avoid arrest and two prior charges of driving on a revoked license.

In other District Court sentencing hearings Wednesday…..

25-year-old Trevor Watson, of Beatrice had a post-release supervision term revoked, and he was sentenced to one year in prison on a conviction of drug possession

25-year-old Mitchell Stewart, of Omaha….who has a pending robbery warrant from Council Bluffs, Iowa….was sentenced to a year in Gage County Jail for carrying a concealed weapon and theft by shoplifting