A McLoud man who already had admitted a federal firearms count nearly two years ago and was sentenced, has also pleaded no contest to three state felony charges and drawn prison terms to run concurrently.
Christopher Steven Ledbetter originally was charged in Lincoln County District Court on Sep. 14, 2021 with five felonies. They included planning, attempt/conspire to perform an act of violence; two counts of possessing a firearm during commission of a felony; endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude a police officer; and feloniously pointing a firearm. Two of those counts had been dropped during the
Two of those counts had been dropped during the course of his preliminary hearing in which he was bound over to stand trial.
Recently appearing before District Judge Cindy Ashwood, and upon the state’s recommendation as the result of a plea bargain, Ledbetter withdrew his previous pleas and pleaded no contest to Count 1, endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude a police officer; Count 2, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony; and Count 3, feloniously pointing a firearm.
The state and defendant waived a pre-sentence investigation. The judge received the pleas and the waiver.
The judge found him guilty as charged on all three counts.
On Count 1, she sentenced him to five years in the Department of Corrections, assessed him a $200 fine, $100 VCA and court costs.
On Count 2, Judge Ashwood sentenced him to five years in DOC, gave him a $100 fine, a $100 VCA and court costs.
On Count 3, Ledbetter was sentenced to five years in DOC, $100 fine, $100 VCA and court costs.
The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently with each other, Ledbetter was given credit for time served, he was advised of his right to appeal, he waived 10-day detainer; and was ordered to report to the court clerk’s cost administrator 180 days of release from custody.
The possession of firearm during the commission of a felony count accused him on May 19, 2020 of possessing an AR-15 assault rifle while committing the felony of endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude McLoud Police Officer William Hicks as Hicks pursued him.
The endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude occurred May 19, 2020, as he ignored Hicks’ efforts to stop him by accelerating his speed and running stop signs and in doing so endangering others.
In the third felony, Ledbetter was charged with pointing the AR-15 assault rifle at Hicks without lawful cause with the intention of shooting the firearm at Hicks.
Even though Ledbetter was sentenced in December of 2020 to 57 months in a federal prison on the federal count, he was being held in the Lincoln County Jail as the state charges proceeded through the court system.
In the federal sentencing of Ledbetter, U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin noted the nature and circumstances of Ledbetter’s conduct leading to his arrest, including reckless endangerment and the attempted evasion of McLoud police.