Stephen R. Jones, 39, of Coeur d’Alene, was sentenced Friday to serve up to five years in prison for the felony offense of eluding an officer, the Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced.

Jones was sentenced by District Judge Richard Christensen, who ordered the first 3 1/2 years of the sentence would be fixed, and the remaining 1 1/2 years would be indeterminate.

The charges stem from Nov. 25, 2016, when Jones led law enforcement officers on a pursuit through a portion of Rathdrum. He drove his vehicle along Highway 41, traveling north while in the southbound lane. Vehicles traveling southbound along Highway 41 at this time were forced to drive in the opposite lane of travel in an effort not to collide with Jones and his vehicle.

Jones refused to stop despite requests by law enforcement officers using lights and sirens. He only stopped after crashing into another vehicle.

After Jones was apprehended, he failed field sobriety tests. He refused a urine test.

Jones has an extensive criminal history and was released from prison in September 2016.

Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh praised the work of the Rathdrum Police Department, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Stanley Mortensen, who prosecuted the case.

“This is an example where citizens were put in danger by an individual who refuses to control his impulses even after serving time in the penitentiary. We hope the Department of Correction will take a hard look at whether Mr. Jones can be trusted in the community after this conviction. Judge Christensen did the right thing by sentencing him to prison given his terrible record and the dangerous circumstances created by Mr. Jones.”

Jones’ criminal history includes: 1997 inattentive/careless driving; 1998 false information to law enforcement; 1999 felony aggravated assault; 2000 resisting/obstructing officers, three counts; 2000 inattentive/careless driving; 2001 petit theft; 2002 leaving the scene of an accident causing damage and DUI; 2002 battery; 2003 disturbing the peace; 2003 malicious injury to property; 2004 false information to law enforcement; 2004 battery; 2005 felony possession of a controlled substance; 2005 driving without privileges; 2005 felony possession of a controlled substance; 2011 aggravated assault; 2011 felony possession of a controlled substance, two counts.