After entering a plea of guilty to six felony counts in Iowa District Court for Carroll County on Aug. 22, a Michigan man waived his right to a future date for sentencing and a pre-sentencing investigation, instead asking the court to immediately impose his sentence. At the time of his plea, 39-year-old Todd Alan Michalec of Escanaba, Mich., was sentenced to up to 15 years on three counts of eluding and attempting to elude causing serious injury and three counts of serious injury by a vehicle. On June 3 of this year, Michalec had led local law enforcement officials on a chase through Carroll on U.S. Highway 30, reaching speeds up to 72 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. The pursuit ended when Michalec collided head-on with a minivan, seriously injuring 47-year-old Heide Reinhardt of Glidden, 25-year-old Caitlin Main and 25-year-old Gina Gibson, both of Carroll. In addition to the prison time, Michalec has been ordered to pay more than $11,000 in restitution to two of the three victims, with the state retaining the ability to produce statements of damages within the next 30 days for possible additional restitution. More than $3,000 in fines and surcharges have been suspended and Michalec has been committed to the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections. He has also been ordered to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and any recommended treatment at his own expense, enroll in the Drinking Driver’s School within the next 60 days and his driver’s license has been revoked. Michalec’s sentence could be reduced for time served and/or work and program credits.
