Jersey men charged in chase plead not guilty
NORWICH – Two men accused of leading police on a 120-mile-an-hour chase through red lights, stops signs and a police blockade appeared in court Monday to answer the charges filed against them by a Chenango County Grand Jury.
The driver, Michael J. Bentley, 20, and his passenger, Brian T. Stoddard, 23, who are both from Lincoln Park, N.J., appeared in Supreme Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their appearance, Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dowd remanded both to jail, Bentley in lieu of $20,000 bail and Stoddard on $10,000.
The two men were arrested Sept. 16 following a high-speed chase through five townships and two counties beginning in the Town of New Berlin.
Police say the two New Jersey men, while operating a stolen black Honda Accord, careened through traffic and even avoided road spikes before losing control of their vehicle while negotiating a turn. The vehicle was involved in a one car accident striking a guide rail; neither defendant suffered serious injury.
The pursuit began when the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office received information from the New Jersey State Police that suspects operating a stolen vehicle involved in a separate pursuit in New Jersey were in the area of a seasonal camp in New Berlin.
Deputies discovered the vehicle being driven just south of the Village of South New Berlin. The suspects reportedly avoided police by speeding away onto Rt. 8. The chase ended in Masonville, with the defendants crashing their stolen car.
Bentley was indicted for fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, second degree reckless endangerment, felonies, and third degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.
Stoddard was indicted for fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony.
Both defendants will appear in court at a later date.
The driver, Michael J. Bentley, 20, and his passenger, Brian T. Stoddard, 23, who are both from Lincoln Park, N.J., appeared in Supreme Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their appearance, Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dowd remanded both to jail, Bentley in lieu of $20,000 bail and Stoddard on $10,000.
The two men were arrested Sept. 16 following a high-speed chase through five townships and two counties beginning in the Town of New Berlin.
Police say the two New Jersey men, while operating a stolen black Honda Accord, careened through traffic and even avoided road spikes before losing control of their vehicle while negotiating a turn. The vehicle was involved in a one car accident striking a guide rail; neither defendant suffered serious injury.
The pursuit began when the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office received information from the New Jersey State Police that suspects operating a stolen vehicle involved in a separate pursuit in New Jersey were in the area of a seasonal camp in New Berlin.
Deputies discovered the vehicle being driven just south of the Village of South New Berlin. The suspects reportedly avoided police by speeding away onto Rt. 8. The chase ended in Masonville, with the defendants crashing their stolen car.
Bentley was indicted for fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, second degree reckless endangerment, felonies, and third degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.
Stoddard was indicted for fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony.
Both defendants will appear in court at a later date.
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