Man pleads guilty in theft, police chase
An Allegheny County man charged with leading police on a chase following a retail theft pleaded guilty in Butler County Court on Wednesday.
Jordan Filsinger, 25, of Avalon pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, conspiracy to retail theft, receiving stolen property and summary driving on a suspended license before Judge Timothy McCune.
He was initially charged with felony counts, which were later changed to misdemeanors as part of the plea.
The plea agreement calls for a sentence to 24 months' probation, fines, costs, community service and restitution. He is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 28.
Filsinger was charged alongside his father, Patrick J. Filsinger, 49, of Pittsburgh after an incident on Dec. 21, 2016, in Cranberry Township.
Police said the pair stole about $740 worth of items and led police on a high-speed chase.
Police reports state Patrick Filsinger walked into Walmart around 1:40 a.m. and loaded a shopping cart with numerous items, including two LED televisions, two Blu-ray disc players, a PlayStation 4 headset and two 12-packs of soda.
Video surveillance in the store showed Patrick Filsinger walking out of the store with the cart through the lawn and garden center's emergency exit and loading the items in the duo's Chevrolet Cavalier.
Jordan Filsinger then took off at a “high rate of speed” onto Nicklas Drive, according to police. He also had a suspended license and was twice convicted of retail theft. There were two active warrants out for him.
The car then turned onto Route 19 southbound and “swerved erratically” several times before stopping past the stop bar at the intersection between routes 19 and 228, before merging onto Interstate 79 southbound.
Despite attempts to stop them, the Filsingers' Cavalier continued onto the interstate in excess of 90 mph.
Police stopped the chase at the Camp Horne Road exit on Interstate 279 southbound. Warrants were issued for the duo and they were later arrested.
Jordan Filsinger continues to be held in the Butler County Prison on $10,000 bail.
Patrick Filsinger's charges were eventually dismissed.
