PARIS — A man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase and later found to be growing marijuana admitted to some of the charges against him on Wednesday.
Jeremy D. Stedman, 39, of 174 McCrillis Brook Road in Bethel, pleaded guilty in Oxford County Superior Court to eluding an officer, operating under the influence and unlawful possession of marijuana. Justice Robert Clifford sentenced Stedman to serve 90 days of a two-year prison sentence with two years of probation.
Stedman must also pay $1,750 in fines and will lose his driver’s license for three years. During his probation, he must not use or possess alcohol or illegal drugs and submit to random searches for them.
Stedman was accused of driving 69 mph hour in a 35 mph zone in Milton Township in February. Trooper Jason Wing said in his report that Stedman accelerated to 90 mph at times before pulling over on the Gore Road in Woodstock. Wing also found an open container of beer during a search of Stedman’s pickup truck.
When Wing went to Stedman’s house a week after the incident to do a bail check, he smelled marijuana and got a search warrant for the residence. Police found that most of the second floor had been converted to growing and drying marijuana, and about 100 plants were seized.
Stedman’s plea dismissed charges of criminal speed, operating after suspension, driving to endanger, marijuana cultivation and violation of conditions of release.
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