Man Sentenced To 27 Years In High-Speed Chase

Saturday, June 30th 2007, 8:54 pm

By: News On 6

DUNCAN, Okla. (AP) _ A judge has sentenced a Sand Springs man to 27 years in prison after the man was convicted of charges filed after he led authorities on a high-speed chase last August.

Christopher Wayne Smith, 31, received the sentence Thursday from Stephens County District Court Judge Joe Enos. Prosecutors had asked Enos to impose a life sentence upon Smith, who acknowledged four previous felony convictions during a sentencing hearing.

Authorities said Smith led officers of seven law-enforcement agencies in a pursuit from just north of Comanche to Ringgold, Texas. Speeds reached up to 120 mph during the 26-minute chase, which started after Stephens County sheriff's deputies had pulled over a car, driven by Smith, that had been reported as stolen.

Smith was convicted of attempting to elude a police officer after a former conviction of a felony. His attorney, Jim Berry, asked Enos for less prison time, saying Smith had acknowledged his guilt.

``At the time, he was on drugs,'' Berry said of Smith. ``With some intensive treatment, he might be able to turn his life around.''

District Attorney Bret Burns told the judge that four months ago, while Smith was awaiting trial on the Stephens County charges, Smith was involved in a high-speed chase in Osage County in northeastern Oklahoma.

``He is a dangerous person,'' Burns said.

Enos told Smith his conduct ``has been similar to taking a loaded pistol and brandishing it.'' The judge also ordered Smith to pay a $2,500 fine and court costs and to participate in a long-term substance-abuse program.

Smith still faces three felony counts in Osage County.