Waubun man sentenced for two crimes
A Waubun man was sentenced Friday in Becker County District Court on two unrelated felony charges of criminal vehicular operation (causing substantial bodily harm) and fleeing a peace officer.
Justin Aaron Asher Spencer, 22, of 24785 Co. Hwy. 28, Waubun, was charged with criminal vehicular operation as the result of a June 27, 2009, accident on 240th Avenue, Becker County, in which he struck a road approach at a high rate of speed, causing the vehicle to land in the ditch.
The crash caused one of the windows to shatter and a male passenger suffered glass embedded in his back, multiple scrapes and four deep cuts that required 14 staples to close.
Spencer was also charged with felony fleeing a peace officer, gross misdemeanor shining (i.e., using his vehicle's headlights to attempt to hunt an animal) and a misdemeanor charge of transportation of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle.
Those charges stemmed from an Oct. 21, 2009, incident on 340th Street in Becker County, in which Spencer was caught shining his headlights into the field, and proceeded to drive away from the scene at a high rate of speed, despite being pursued by a patrol car with sirens on and lights flashing.
Spencer pled guilty to the criminal vehicular operation and fleeing a peace officer charges on Feb. 24. The remaining counts were dismissed.
Spencer was sentenced to 120 days in jail on each charge, to be served concurrently, with credit for two days already served. He must also serve up to six years of probation on the vehicular operation charge, and up to four years on the fleeing a peace officer charge. He was also ordered to pay $1,090 in fines and court fees on both charges.
