Montrose Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

A man arrested after a domestic battery incident at a Montrose motel and a subsequent pursuit through four counties in 2018 has been sentenced to prison.

(MERL WHEELER)

The case of 47-year-old Merl Wheeler, Jr. began when a woman went to the desk of the Red Carpet Inn in Montrose in July of 2018 and reported that her boyfriend had stabbed her in the breast with a knife and then fled the scene. 

Effingham County sheriff's deputies spotted a van reportedly driven by Wheeler headed east on Route 40 from Montrose into Cumberland County and attempted to stop the vehicle, which was traveling at a speed of just 25MPH, but the vehicle didn't stop. The pursuit headed into Jasper County, then back into Cumberland County, ending up back on Route 40 at Woodbury. The van then headed back to Montrose, where Wheeler got onto eastbound I-70. At that point, Wheeler's van traveled down into and through the median, then headed west where a high-speed chase began, with speeds clocked at up to 100MPH. 

Police eventually called off the pursuit because of concern for other motorists, but later learned that the van crashed near the Brownstown weigh station in Fayette County, and deputies there held Wheeler for Effingham County deputies.

Wheeler at the time used a false name, but deputies later positively identified him as Wheeler.

Wheeler was found at the time of his arrest to have been wanted in Missouri for a probation violation on counts of trafficking in drugs, as well as stealing a credit card.

The conclusion of Wheeler's case has been delayed until his fitness to stand trial was established. 

In court Thursday, Wheeler pled guilty to aggravated domestic battery and agreed to a sentence of 10 years in prison. He will serve four years' mandatory supervised release once out of prison. He was given credit for 976 days served in custody while awaiting disposition of his case.