Drunken driver who fled from CHP sentenced
A Las Vegas man who fled from California Highway Patrolofficers trying to stop him for drunken driving, leading to a high-speedpursuit that ended with the defendant crashing his SUV, was sentenced today to16 months behind bars.
James Ryan Hoffman, 28, pleaded guilty last month to felony evading andmisdemeanor DUI in connection with a September chase in Temecula.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, the Riverside County DistrictAttorney’s Office dropped two misdemeanor charges of false imprisonment –which stemmed from Hoffman carrying passengers while fleeing from lawenforcement — in exchange for his acknowledgement of guilt on the other twocounts.
Superior Court Judge Elaine Johnson certified the plea deal today andimposed the sentence agreed upon by both sides.
According to the CHP, about 2 a.m. last Sept. 13, two officerspatrolling Ynez Road, just south of Dealer Road, spotted a 2003 Jeep Cherokeeweaving in southbound lanes and signaled the driver to pull over, which heinitially did, heading into the Tower Plaza mall parking lot.
“Without warning, the driver of the Jeep began to drive wildly throughthe parking lot, jumping curbs and raised islands,” CHP Officer Nathan Baersaid. “The vehicle headed back onto Ynez Road and accelerated to a high rateof speed southbound.”
The Jeep reached speeds of 90 mph during the ensuing chase, according toBaer.
He said when Hoffman passed Margarita Road, he swung the Jeep 180degrees, causing the SUV to crash into the raised center median, shattering thevehicle’s left front wheel assembly, though it was still drivable.
“The driver continued fleeing northbound and was unable to stay in thenorthbound lane,” Baer said. “The Jeep drove over the center median andbecame disabled.”
Hoffman and his three passengers were arrested without incident, thoughonly the defendant was booked into jail.
No one required medical treatment after the pursuit.
Hoffman will have to serve his sentence in state prison, though he’ll beeligible for parole in a year.
