A Belle Fourche, S.D., man pleaded guilty Tuesday to assault while fleeing a police officer in a 2009 incident at a change of plea hearing in Southwest District Court in Dickinson.
The two misdemeanor charges against Travis Brant Peters, which included Class A misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and Class B misdemeanor driving while license is suspended, were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Peters, born 1979, was sentenced to five years with two years suspended and credit for time served.
In September, Peters pleaded not guilty in Bowman County District Court to Class B felony assault, Class A misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude police and Class B misdemeanor driving while license privilege is suspended.
According to a criminal complaint, Peters caused multiple bone fractures to another person when he struck another vehicle in Bowman County while in the process of trying to elude a police officer, who was pursuing Peters with lights and sirens.
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Peters, who was also driving with a suspended license, tried to circumvent road spikes placed by law enforcement, according to the criminal complaint.
Peters' attorney, Jay Greenwood, said Peters is supposed to go back to South Dakota, where he is currently serving a six year parole in connection with the same event and will be allowed to make contact from there with his parole and probation officer in North Dakota.
Bowman County State's Attorney James Gion said the charges in South Dakota are linked to the same incident that occurred in North Dakota.
"It was an ongoing, interstate event," he said.
Gion told Judge William Herauf that he had spoken with the law enforcement officers involved in the incident about the terms of Peters' plea deal.
"They say the sentence is fine," he said. "The law enforcement officers involved have had the opportunity to visit with (Peters) and they say they see a change in him."
Gion added that law enforcement officers who transported Peters to his last hearing in Bowman County recognized a positive change in Peters.
"The law enforcement officer came back to me and said that they wish they had a tape of Mr. Peters talking to the other inmates who had been transported to his last hearing," Gion said.
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Herauf commended Peters on turning his life around and urged him to keep it up.
"It appears that you have changed and turned your life around," Herauf said. "I hope this is the last time you are involved with the legal system."
