Verdicts in 'super drunk' Parchment AD

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - John Thompson, the Parchment athletic director currently on unpaid leave, was found guilty of being super drunk, but no verdict was reached on whether he tried to flee and elude police.

He was arrested in April after police pulled him over.

Thompson took the stand Tuesday and told the jury he was pretty drunk the night of April 4 when the incident occurred. In fact, he said, he was so drunk he didn't remember the chase that reached triple-digit speeds, pulling over for officers and being ordered to the ground at gunpoint.

His blood alcohol content level at the time was .25 -- more than three times the legal limit of .08, police records show.

The prosecutor showed the jury video of the end of the 125-mph booze-fueled chase and said it is proof that Thompson committed the felony act of fleeing and eluding police.

But the jury took days to decide the case.

Thompson was convicted on the drunk driving charges. But a status conference will be held November 16 to determine the future of the fleeing-and-eluding charge.

He will be sentenced on the other charges in early December.

Meanwhile, according to the Parchment School District, Thompson will remain on unpaid leave until the fleeing and eluding issue is resolved.

The district released this statement Thursday afternoon:

"Mr. Thompson's employment status with the Parchment School District will not change. He will remain on unpaid leave. The Parchment School Board will take no further action until the judicial process regarding the felony charge of fleeing and eluding police has been concluded."