Charles Crane/MDN Joshua Chambers, 18, stands in court after pleading guilty to nine of the 21 charges related to a multiagency pursuit in Minot in February.

The Minot man accused of leading multiple law enforcement agencies on pursuit that ended in the heart of downtown Minot in February has accepted a plea that will see him pleading guilty to several charges, including attempted murder.

Joshua Chambers, 18, Minot, appeared in district court on Friday morning before Judge Richard Hagar for a change of plea hearing, with the defense and prosecution presenting a negotiated deal that would see 12 of the 21 charges dismissed.

Per the agreement reviewed in court, in the first of two related cases, Chambers pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder, a Class A felony; two counts of criminal mischief, a Class B felony; two counts of reckless endangerment, a Class C felony; one count of theft, a Class C felony; and one count of fleeing a peace officer in a vehicle, also a class C felony. Chambers also pleaded guilty to a second charge of fleeing a peace officer, second or subsequent, and leaving the scene of an accident involving damage to a motor vehicle, a Class B misdemeanor.

The charges dismissed included two misdemeanor counts for driving under suspension, aggravated reckless driving, two counts of duty upon striking an unattended vehicle and an infraction for striking highway fixtures. An additional six felony charges also were dismissed, including possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility, two counts of criminal mischief and three additional counts of reckless endangerment.

Hagar reviewed the individual dismissals and Chambers’s guilty pleas, confirming that he understood that he was giving up his right to a trial. Chambers said that he was taking three medications for anxiety, depression and to aid with sleeping, but that they didn’t impede his understanding of his plea.

Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Nelson presented the factual basis for the charges against Chambers, saying that based on the deal negotiated with the defense that the affidavit of probable cause previously filed with the court would be used. Nelson made sure to note for the court that the factual basis for the charge of attempted murder also included a recording of a phone call made by the defendant with another individual.

“Both the state and the defense are in possession of a phone call made by the defendant while he has been in custody in the Ward County Jail, where he did state to another that he intended to kill the deputy because he was in his way,” Nelson said.

Hagar would go onto confirm this understanding with Chambers and his attorney regarding the affidavit and the recording and accepted all of the guilty pleas submitted by Chambers. The judge ordered a presentence investigation, including a risk assessment, a psychological evaluation and a chemical dependency evaluation.

Chambers faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $20,000 for the Class A felony, up to 10 years and a $12,000 fine for the Class B felony and a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $10,000 for each of the Class C felonies. A tentative sentencing hearing has been set for Sept. 29.