PARIS — A Farmington man was ordered to serve two years behind bars Thursday after pleading guilty to fleeing from a police officer.
Kirk R. Hamel, 37, of 360 Holley Road, pleaded guilty to eluding an officer. The plea agreement dismissed charges of criminal speed, driving to endanger, reckless conduct and endangering the welfare of a child.
Justice Robert Clifford sentenced Hamel to serve two years of a five-year prison sentence and two years of probation. During his probation, Hamel must not use or possess illegal drugs and must consent to random searches for them.
Hamel had been charged with leading police on a chase along Route 17 that led to speeds of more than 90 mph in a heavy rainstorm in September 2008. His girlfriend and teenage son were in the Jeep during the chase, and all three fled into the woods in Byron after the vehicle was abandoned on a dead-end road. Hamel later turned himself in.
Trooper Paul Casey wrote in court documents that he stopped Hamel after seeing him driving at 74 mph in a 50 mph zone on Route 17. Casey said he smelled marijuana in the car and was requesting backup to assist in a search when Hamel drove off.
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