ST. GEORGE — A man who was arrested after leading police in a high-speed chase from Cedar City to Parowan in March changed his plea to guilty in exchange for the state dropping several charges.
Darren Elden Green, 30, had pleaded not guilty March 26 to one count of failing to stop at an officer’s signal to stop and one count of failing to register as a sex-offender, both third-degree felonies.
He also pleaded not guilty to misdemeanors charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; failing to stop at an officer’s command; driving on a suspended license; operating a vehicle with suspended registration and no insurance; and a traffic infraction for failing to stop at a stop sign.
Appearing Monday before 5th District Judge Matthew Bell, Green changed his plea to guilty on the two felonies, which are punishable by up to five years in prison, and the Class B misdemeanor of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
In exchange for his guilty plea, the state agreed to drop the additional charges.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 29 in 5th District Court in Cedar City.
Green was arrested March 9 after he ran a stop sign, then drove away from police after he was pulled over and asked to step out of the vehicle, according to the police probable cause statement.
Read more: Police chase from Cedar City to Parowan lands man in jail
Police pursued Green to Parowan at speeds of up to 105 mph, before his truck broke down near the Northern Iron County Landfill. He fled on foot and attempted to hide behind a house, but officers found him and took him into custody.
Green admitted to drinking beer prior to the incident. He also said that he believed there was a warrant for his arrest for failing to register as a sex offender.
Green’s sex offender status comes from a 2008 felony conviction in Clark County, Nevada, for an attempted sexual assault against a child under 14 years old.
Police also determined that Green’s vehicle registration and driver’s license were both suspended out of Nevada.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
St. George News reporter Cody Blowers contributed to this report.
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