'Incredibly dangerous' Wright gets 75

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - William Wright was called "an incredibly dangerous person" who "must be excluded from society" at his sentencing for shooting at a Kalamazoo sheriff's deputy during a January traffic stop.

Wright plead guilty on Feb.21 to assault with intent to murder, felony firearm, fleeing and eluding and for being a third-time habitual offender.

He returned to court Monday for sentencing.

Before he was sentenced, though, prosecutor Alexis Sanford laid out her case for a lengthy prison term.

Wright "engaged in an incredibly dangerous course of conduct, shooting at a deputy, conspires to create a diversion, high speed chases, crashing vehicles. Because of this he is quite the danger to the community."

His defense attorney, Kerri Selleck, tried to mitigate Wright's actions. "He has a severe drug problem," she said. "Every one of his conviction up until this point involved some sort of drug offense. In his own statement, he indicates his addiction to meth, (and without meth) he doesn't believe this night would have ever occured. He does not remember what occured because of the amount of meth."

Wright was more succinct in his statement to the court. "I'm sorry for wasting everyone's time."

Then it was Judge Greg Giguere's turn.

"Your inability to control your drug problem has caused you to become and incredibly dangerous person," the  judge said. "This court rejects your action and rejects what you stand for. I conclude that you must, for the good of all, be excluded from society, excluded from us, for an extended period of time."

He will spend at least 30 years in prison for the crimes, with a maximum of 75. Under terms of a plea agreement, Wright received two years in prison for the firearm charge.

His brother, Christopher Wright, pleaded guilty on Jan. 31 to resisting and obstructing a police officer, and he testified against his brother at the preliminary exam. He was sentened to jail and probation.