CRAWFORD CO., Pa. (EYT) — An Oil City man is facing prison time on charges stemming from an incident in which he fled from police in Crawford County late last year.

According to court documents, 44-year-old Christopher Michael Hartle, of Oil City, is scheduled to stand for sentencing at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 17, in the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas.

Hartle pleaded guilty to the following charges on Monday, August 27, before President Judge Anthony Vardaro:

• Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Felony 3
• DUI: Controlled Substance — Impaired Ability — 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
• Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2

As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:

• DUI: Controlled Substance — Schedule 1 — 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
• Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
• Harassment — Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary
• Fail To Keep Right, Summary
• Careless Driving, Summary
• Reckless Driving, Summary
• Fail to use safety belt — driver and front seat occupant, Summary

Hartle is currently free on $50,000.00 unsecured bail while awaiting sentencing.

Hartle is facing up to seven years and a $15,000.00 fine on the third-degree felony fleeing police charge; up to two years and a $5,000.00 fine on the misdemeanor resisting arrest charge; and up to six months and a $5,000.00 fine on the second-degree misdemeanor DUI controlled substance charge.

The mandatory minimum sentence for the DUI controlled substance charge is three days in jail and a $1,000.00 fine.

Details of the case:

According to an article in The Meadville Tribune, around 12:15 a.m. on December 30, 2017, State Police were dispatched to a domestic incident in progress inside a blue Hyundai sedan in the area of Wilson Chute Road in Union Township, Crawford County, but the vehicle left the scene prior to the troopers’ arrival, turning onto U.S. 322 west.

The troopers then spotted the vehicle on U.S. 322 just outside of Meadville turning around to head east and noticed sparks coming from the front passenger side wheel.

After Hartle failed to stop for the troopers’ lights and sirens, the troopers used a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver to stop Hartle’s vehicle.