Sentence handed down in fleeing case
A Butler man pleaded guilty in Butler County Court Tuesday to fleeing from a traffic stop in July of last year.
Kenneth A. Digiacomo, 53, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor flight to avoid apprehension before President Judge Thomas Doerr.
He was sentenced to time served to a year in Butler County Prison and was immediately paroled. However, Digiacomo was on state parole at the time of these charges, and will be sent back into state custody.
Digiacomo was also ordered to pay court costs and a $100 fine, as well as complete counseling recommended by the Butler County Adult Probation Office.
He was initially charged with felony flight, which was later reduced to the misdemeanor count to which he pleaded, as well as misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and several traffic violations after an incident on North Main Street on July 19, 2017.
State police filed the charges after a traffic stop at 9:45 a.m. Police said a red Dodge Ram pickup truck was seen with an expired registration heading south on North Main Street.
Police said a traffic stop was initiated and the vehicle pulled over in a parking lot at 505 N. Main St.
Inside the vehicle were Digiacomo driving and two passengers, Jonathan Beck and Ashley M. McKissick.
The trooper ended up drawing his gun while Beck was digging around under the front seat and failed to comply with commands, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Digiacomo had an active warrant for his arrest, and while the officer was checking this information, Digiacomo opened the driver's door and ran off.
His clothing description was then broadcast and state police, Butler police and the Butler County Sheriff Office K-9 officer searched the area, but Digiacomo was not found.
While police spoke with Beck and McKissick, Beck admitted that there was a crack pipe under his seat, and suspected marijuana was found. Also found inside the vehicle were two Hydrocodone pills under the driver's seat, three glass pipes and a small scale with suspected powder cocaine residue in a green duffel bag on the back seat which the passengers said belonged to Digiacomo, a glass pipe under the front passenger seat and more marijuana on the front passenger's seat.
A warrant was issued and Digiacomo was later arrested.
