11/30/09

A Twin Falls man who crashed his car after a high speed chase more than eight months ago was in court for his sentencing Monday.

On Friday, march 13th of this year, 28 year old Christopher Schmitz of Twin Falls was driving a 2002 white Pontiac Bonneville in excess of 100 miles per hour while trying to outrun police.

Schmitz ended up crashing into a full size pickup with two people inside at the corner of Eastland Drive North and Pole Line Road East.

Schmitz and the passenger from the pickup were taken to Saint Luke's Magic Valley.

Schmitz was charged with aggravated assault using a deadly weapon, attempting to elude a police officer and aggravated driving under the influence.

He first pled not guilty in June, but during a plea bargain agreement in august, he pled guilty to aggravated battery with an enhancement and eluding a police officer.

Monday, Fifth District Judge Randy Stoker sentenced Schmitz to a maximum of 25 years in prison, with 12 of those years fixed.

Stoker also ordered Schmitz to pay more than $26,000 in restitution and suspended his driver's license for three years after he's finally released from prison.