A 56-year-old transient, Ronnie Wayne Lee, was sentenced last week to serve time in the Montana State Prison after he admitted to his involvement in a police chase last year.

Lee, who was held in the Lincoln County Detention Center before being taken to the facility in Deer Lodge, received a 5-year sentence, with three suspended, March 3 from District Judge Matt Cuffe for pleading guilty to criminal endangerment.

Lee also received one year in the county jail, to be served concurrently, after pleading guilty to fleeing from police. Lee was ordered to pay $2,000 fines and costs. He did receive credit for serving 109 days in the jail.

Misdemeanor charges of obstruction of a police officer and reckless driving were dropped following a Jan. 3 plea deal between the county and public defender Scott B. Johnson.

Lee did not make a statement prior to his sentencing.

According to the probable cause statement by county Sheriff’s Office deputy Andrew Smith, he was on patrol shortly after 7 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, on U.S. 2 near Spruce St. when he saw a blue Chevy Silverado driving east. He followed the truck as it turned west onto Spruce St. and checked the license plate through dispatch.

After turning east on Larch St. without using a turn signal, the truck failed to stop at the stop sign as it returned to U.S. 2, headed south. The deputy followed the truck and turned on his lights as the truck speeded up and changed lanes without signaling.

Smith reported the truck crossed into the other lanes as it passed Bowen Hill Road and drove in the emergency lane at 75 miles per hour. While passing Saverite South, Smith reported a vehicle driving north and was nearly involved in a head-on collision with the Silverado, missing it by a few feet, while traveling an estimated 85 mph.

Smith reported the truck forced another northbound vehicle off the highway, again nearly causing a head-on collision. The truck then came to an abrupt stop with the man jumping out as the truck still moved.

After a foot chase, Smith arrested the man and identified him as Lee by his Iowa ID. Dispatch reported Lee’s California driver’s license was expired and that he didn’t possess a license to operate anywhere else.

Dispatch also reported the truck was registered to a dead man.

Smith said when he asked Lee if he had a driver’s license or insurance, the accused replied, “no.” The deputy also reported Lee told him he bought the truck from a man who first bought the truck from the dead man.

Lee had faced a maximum 10-year term in the Montana State Prison.