Man gets 18 years for chase-related wreck

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis man on Thursday was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement in a car chase resulting in an accident that killed a city police officer.

Stephion Sutton, 19, pleaded guilty in July to felony murder in the August 2002 death of officer Michael Barwick. The crash happened as Barwick, 27, and his partner, Jenna Christian, pursued a stolen 2002 Chrysler Sebring. Police said Sutton was a passenger in the stolen car.

Sutton could have faced up to life in prison. Barwick's father said Sutton should have been sentenced to at least 30 years.

"You have police officers out there every day doing their job, risking their lives and the judges aren't handing out the sentences," Mitch Barwick said.

The alleged driver of the stolen car, Deon Hampton, 18, is also awaiting trial on murder charges. That trial is expected to begin next month.

Police said the officers had begun their pursuit only two seconds before activating a panic button, indicating something had gone wrong.

The police cruiser had collided with a van, flipped, and burst into flames. Barwick died a short time later. Christian, 23, suffered serious injuries. Two other officers were treated for injuries suffered when they pulled their colleagues from the burning car.

Police Chief Joe Mokwa said the teenagers were part of a gang that stole more than 30 cars -- all Chryslers -- mostly from St. Louis County, then took them to the city's north side. There, the teens would charge $50 for use of the stolen cars, which were then abandoned.

The courtroom was packed with police officers for the sentencing.