Vanduser
MONTICELLO – A Monticello man was sentenced in Sullivan County Court to three to six years in state prison for a high-speed chase that occurred in the towns of Liberty and Bethel in November 2017.
Joshua Vanduser, 35, pled guilty to reckless endangerment as a felony for his actions in the chase and admitted to recklessly endangering others when he led police on the chase.
Vanduser was driving a van on Route 55 in the Town of Liberty on November 21 when he was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy who was aware Vanduser was wanted on an outstanding court warrant.
After the deputy told Vanduser he was under arrest, Vanduser sped off at speeds of over 90 miles per hour and at one point drove his car directly at a marked Bethel Constable vehicle that was assisting in the pursuit.
District Attorney James Farrell said “This man was wanted on a simple local court warrant and could have simply complied with the police officer’s directions, but instead chose to flee and endanger the other users of the public highway and the police officers who were trying to get him to stop.”
Farrell said the outcome of the incident could have resulted in someone being seriously hurt.
“The message is simple – don’t flee, don’t run – because if you do we are going to make sure you are held responsible and accountable for your reckless acts.”
Vanduser was sentenced on August 21 as a second felony offender having a prior felony conviction for burglary in 2009.
