PAINESVILLE, Ohio — The man who pled guilty to attacking a Willoughby police officer in 2022 was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation on Tuesday in Lake County Common Pleas Court.
In addition, 64-year-old David Koubeck of Mentor was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation, which includes anger management, plus pay a $500 fine along with other related court costs. Koubeck must also have no contact with the victim, Willoughby Officer Stacee Wright.
"I do hope you get the anger management treatment you need," Judge Jeffrey Ruple told Koubeck after delivering his sentence.
You can watch Tuesday's sentencing hearing below. NOTE: The hearing contains explicit language
The sentence for Koubeck of Mentor came down a year and a half after he was pulled over by police for speeding.
According to the Willoughby Police Department, Officer Stacee Wright pulled Koubeck over for speeding on Lost Nation Road just before 4:25 p.m. on Sep. 10, 2022. Police say Koubeck got out of the car without being asked, refused to sit down when instructed, then pointed his finger near Wright's face and pushed her.
After Koubeck declined multiple orders to put his hands either behind his back or on the vehicle, police reported that a "physical struggle" ensued between him and Wright. As Wright and Koubeck were struggling, four people who were not previously in the area stopped to help, assisted her in subduing and arresting the suspect.
In Jan. 2023, Koubeck was indicted by a grand jury in Lake County on a felony assault charge, plus misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, speeding and not wearing a seat belt. He pleaded not guilty at the time, but changed his plea to guilty last month with a lesser assault charge as part of his agreement.
During his statement to Ruple before Tuesday's sentencing, Koubeck tried to paint himself as a victim. "I was hit first, not me hitting her (Wright)," he told the judge. "She kept on attacking me until I backed off and then I was rammed into the ground like Rodney King."
Assistant Lake County Prosecutor Eric Foisel played nearly five minutes of dashcam footage showing Wright's traffic stop of Koubeck that escalated into the wrestling match involving four other people.
Wright also spoke during the sentencing hearing, telling the judge that she has received threats in the aftermath of the Sept. 2022 arrest. Foisel added that she suffered jarred teeth and a laceration on her face as a result of the encounter with Koubeck.
"I would like it to be over," she told Ruple. "If you are an adult and you make adult decisions, you should have the same consequences and take responsibility for yourself."
Foisel asked Ruple to apply the maximum jail sentence because Koubeck had not demonstrated any remorse. "He has done nothing but mitigate and skew this to some version that he has created in his head that does not align with what took place on that day," Foisel told the judge.
Koubeck's attorney argued for a sentence of probation only, adding that his client takes care of his elderly mother. As Koubek was being led out of the courtroom by Lake County Sheriff's deputies after sentencing, he looked over to his mother and said, "bye, Mom."