A Mandaree man was sentenced to three years with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after pleading guilty to three felonies stemming from a pursuit in March.

Omar Elias Cespedes, 42, entered a change of plea on Thursday as part of a plea agreement, pleading guilty to possession with intent to deliver-fentanyl, a Class B felony; fleeing a peace officer-vehicle-risk of death or serious bodily injury and preventing arrest-felony, both Class C felonies.

According to the declaration of probable cause, the North Dakota Highway Patrol was notified on March 13 that Cespedes was the subject of a Ward County Narcotics Task Force investigation. Cespedes and a passenger Daniel Gay were located in a vehicle at a gas station in Makoti. Gay exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident, but Cespedes ignored multiple commands to exit the vehicle and fled the scene.

Cespedes fled law enforcement at speeds consistently around 120 mph on N.D. Highway 23, during which he passed other motorists. Despite the successful deployment of a tire deflation device and a PIT maneuver by a Highway Patrol officer, Cespedes continued to flee from law enforcement driving southbound in the northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 83. Multiple motorists were forced to come to a stop along the highway, according to court documents.

Eventually Cespedes’ vehicle was too disabled to continue fleeing, but he locked himself in the vehicle and refused commands for him to exit. Highway Patrol officers were forced to break the window to remove him from the vehicle and take him into custody. The vehicle was impounded and searched, locating a bindle of fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a bottle of fraudulent urine.

District Court Judge Stacey Louser sentenced Cespedes to serve 10 years for the B felony with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with all but three years suspended. Cespedes was given credit for 106 days already served, with three years of supervised probation and a requirement to complete a chemical dependency evaluation. He was also assessed $775 in court fines and fees.

Cespedes also received a concurrent sentence of five years with the DOCR for the C felonies, with all but three years suspended and credit for 106 days served.