BY KEITH EPPS
A man who spit on a deputy and urinated in his cruiser following a hit-and-run incident last year was ordered yesterday to serve just over two years in prison.
Michael D. Corley, 40, of Dumfries was sentenced in Stafford Circuit Court to a total of 16 years in prison with all but two years and two months suspended.
He earlier pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, assault on a police officer, eluding police and driving while intoxicated.
The spitting incident occurred while Deputy C.V. Russo was transporting Corley to a magistrate's office following his arrest late Aug. 5, 2006. Corley spit on the back of Russo's neck and head, according to the evidence.
Yesterday, Corley offered a novel explanation for the saliva attack. He testified that he was simply trying to get the alcohol out of his system and didn't realize he was spitting on the deputy.
Russo went to the Foxwood Village area of North Stafford that night in response to a reported hit-and-run.
On the way, he spotted Corley's pickup truck dragging a boat motor on Staffordboro Boulevard going 70 mph in a 35 mph zone.
Corley speeded up even more when Russo turned on his emergency lights. He ran a red light and nearly struck other vehicles during the short pursuit.
Russo finally stopped the vehicle in front of Giant off Doc Stone Road. Corley was intoxicated and combative, according to the evidence.
Prosecutor Jim Peterson urged Judge Gordon Willis to give Corley the maximum 20 years on his latest convictions.
Peterson said that Corley, who has a long criminal record and had already served 14 years in prison before the Stafford arrest, is a danger to society.
Peterson cited psychiatric reports that called Corley such things as a "potential serial killer."
Defense attorney Ghislaine Storr argued that Peterson was trying to punish Corley for crimes he's already paid for. She and Corley disputed some of the findings in the psychiatric reports.
"He needs to stop being punished for what he did in the past," Storr said. "People can change and he has."
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404