An Arizona man who led police officers on a brief chase this summer before crashing his vehicle has reached a plea deal with the Grand Forks County State's Attorney's Office.
Mark Anthony Molina, 36, was charged with seven counts related to a July 19 traffic incident in which Grand Forks Police witnessed him driving erratically and ultimately crash. According to court documents, Molina pleaded guilty to five of the seven charges, including reckless endangerment and driving under the influence while causing injury, both Class C felonies.
The plea deal, signed Oct. 24 and agreed upon in court Monday, will see Molina serve two years of a five-year sentence in prison. He will receive credit for 51 days served in jail. Following his release, Molina will be under supervised probation for three years following his release.
According to an affidavit, Molina was spotted by police driving recklessly on Gateway Drive about 11 p.m. on July 19. When officers attempted to pull Molina over, he ignored them and eventually crashed into a cinder block wall on North 23rd Street.
Police say Molina hid under a table in a nearby building. When officers attempted to conduct a field driving under the influence test, Molina refused, but did admit to consuming alcohol. Officers also found a piece of paraphernalia believed to be used for methamphetamine consumption.
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Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of refusing to submit to a DUI test, a Class C felony, and criminal trespass, a misdemeanor. In addition to the two felony counts, Molina also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing an officer and driving with a suspended license.
