Jul. 16—MITCHELL — A 67-year-old Mitchell man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison with four years suspended after pleading guilty to his sixth driving under the influence (DUI) offense.
Steve Rath received the sentence in Davison County court stemming from a high-speed chase earlier this year with the Davison County Sheriff’s Office. He was also given credit for 138 days already served, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $456 in restitution for damage caused during the incident.
The charges followed a pursuit that occurred in February in the Mitchell area. Deputies attempted to stop Rath, who fled and reached speeds of up to 115 mph, according to court documents. The chase was called off as it approached residential streets, but Rath continued driving and eventually crashed into a tree, where he was arrested.
Rath faced multiple charges, including a Class 4 felony for sixth-offense DUI, Class 1 misdemeanors for eluding law enforcement and driving with a revoked license, and Class 2 misdemeanors for no proof of insurance and having an open container. He was also cited for not wearing a seat belt.
On Tuesday, Rath pleaded guilty to the felony DUI charge as part of a plea agreement. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges.
Court records show Rath has a long history with substance abuse and the legal system. He participated in the James Valley Drug and DUI Court program multiples times, graduating twice — first in January 2020 and again in November 2023.
After Rath is released from prison, his driver’s license will be revoked for three years.