An Idaho Falls man who led police on a high-speed chase into oncoming traffic was sentenced Thursday.
Francisco P. Tarin, 41, had pleaded guilty to two counts of felony eluding police. Administrative District Judge Jon Shindurling ordered Tarin to serve a combined sentence of 10 years in prison.
Tarin has four prior obstructing or resisting law enforcement convictions and two prior assault or battery on law enforcement convictions.
He could be eligible for parole after three-and-a-half years are served.
Tarin was charged after he fled police Sept. 25 in Idaho Falls during an attempted traffic stop. He was wanted on five arrest warrants for stalking, burglary, aggravated assault, eluding police and misdemeanor battery.
He again fled law enforcement Oct. 2 on Interstate 15 in a seven-minute pursuit. Tarin drove south in the interstate's northbound lanes, reaching speeds of 120 mph.
Bonneville County sheriff's deputies called off the pursuit when they began approaching an unrelated accident scene on the interstate. Two semi-trucks had collided earlier near Blackfoot and officials were still in the process of clearing the road. Officers stopped the pursuit when they thought Tarin might be a risk to the people at the accident scene.
Tarin later ditched his car, stole a boat and tried to hide from police on a remote island in the Snake River.
In addition to pleading guilty to the eluding charges, Tarin will be sentenced next week for multiple pending misdemeanor charges.
Shindurling noted that Tarin had a long history of being nonresponsive to authorities.
""Your criminal history is, frankly, daunting,"" the judge said.
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