Man Who Jumped from Auglaize County Courthouse, Led 60-Mile Chase Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison

Man Who Jumped from Courthouse Window, Led 60-Mile Pursuit Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison

WAPAKONETA — A 37-year-old man who dramatically escaped from the Auglaize County Courthouse earlier this year and led authorities on a multi-county, high-speed chase has been sentenced to nearly a decade behind bars.

Nathaniel Nix Jr. was sentenced on Sept. 30 in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court to a prison term of 9½ to 12 years and ordered to pay $680.93 in restitution. He received 234 days of jail credit for time already served.

Nix pleaded guilty to felonious assault (second-degree felony), fleeing and eluding (third-degree felony), obstructing official business (fifth-degree felony), and vandalism (fifth-degree felony) as part of a plea agreement that amended the original charges.

The charges stem from a February 4 incident when Nix—who was in court for an unrelated drug case—tested positive for alcohol, marijuana, and amphetamines during a bond hearing. When the court revoked his bond and ordered him into custody, Nix ignored orders to remain seated, broke out a courthouse window, and jumped through it to escape.

Deputies pursued him into the parking lot, but Nix managed to reach his vehicle. In the process, he allegedly dragged a deputy a short distance while accelerating to flee, causing minor injuries.

A high-speed pursuit followed, stretching nearly 60 miles through Wapakoneta, onto Interstate 75, and through several jurisdictions before Nix’s vehicle became mechanically disabled in Wood County, where he was taken into custody without further incident.

Nix was originally indicted on multiple counts, including assault on a peace officer, escape, and resisting arrest, but those charges were reduced under the plea deal.

He is currently being held at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, where he will be processed before serving his sentence.