Defendant sentenced to 18 months | News, sports, jobs

A Minot man has been sentenced after entering guilty pleas to multiple charges in four separate cases, including three unique counts of fleeing a peace officer, a class C misdemeanor.

Scott Timothy Gagne, 46, Minot, entered his plea Oct. 2 in North Central District Court, pleading guilty to three counts of fleeing a peace officer’s vehicle causing risk of death or serious injury, a class misdemeanor C; one count of reckless driving/safety, one count of driving while revoked related to alcohol, both class B misdemeanors; and one count of theft – $500 – $1,000, a class A misdemeanor.

According to court documents, the first incident occurred on January 4, 2023, when Gagne turned off his lights and fled at a high rate of speed during an attempted traffic stop by a Minot police officer. The second occurred on January 27, 2023, when Gagne, whose license had been revoked at the time, fled another attempt by Minot police to apprehend him. Officers ended the pursuits in both cases, but observed him driving over the speed limit through school zones while children and parents were present.

The third incident occurred on January 30. Minot police officers and Ward County sheriff’s deputies pursued Gagne after he tried to evade another traffic stop. Despite several failed attempts, officers were eventually able to deflate one of the front tires of Gagne’s vehicle with spike strips. Gagne continued to drive with a flat tire before pulling into a driveway where he was arrested and then delivered to the Ward County Jail.

The theft charge stemmed from a report received on Aug. 7, 2023, when a Minot auto store said a man wearing a Hawaiian shirt stole $764 worth of merchandise from the store. A store employee identified Gagne after completing a photo lineup.

District Court Judge Todd Cresap sentenced Gagne to a concurrent sentence of five years in the Department of Corrections, to be served 18 months first with credit for 81 days. Gagne was ordered to complete two years of supervised probation and pay $915 in restitution. Gagne was also assessed $2,650 in court fines and fees.