The Buchanan County Prosecutor's Office had its pick of ways to send Michael Todd Williams to prison.

But a possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute charge sufficed, netting the defendant a 12-year sentence on Monday in Buchanan County Circuit Court. Mr. Williams, 34, pleaded guilty to that class B felony, and in exchange, the prosecutor's office agreed not to file additional charges or enhance the existing ones.

During his hearing before Judge Pat Robb, Mr. Williams admitted to fleeing in his car from St. Joseph Police officers after they pulled him over on Clay Street for having a light out on Aug. 18. According to testimony and court documents, the ensuing chase lasted about 20 blocks, during which a passenger in the car, Barbie Ray Berry, threw about seven grams of methamphetamine and a loaded 9 mm pistol out the window.

At one point during the chase, Mr. Williams stopped long enough to let Ms. Berry out of the vehicle to flee on foot. Mr. Williams then backed his car into a police cruiser, pinning an officer between the two vehicles, before continuing the car chase. The officer wasn't injured.

When police finally arrested Mr. Williams, the St. Joseph man still was in possession of digital scales, according to his testimony. The defendant told the court the meth Ms. Berry threw from the car was his.

Assistant Prosecutor Robert Reinhardt noted the state could've filed any number of additional charges - possession of drug paraphernalia, assault of an officer, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and driving while license suspended, among others. The prosecutor also agreed to dismiss its second count - resisting/interfering with arrest - in return for the plea agreement, which asked for the 12 years in prison.

The punishment for possession with the intent to distribute ranges from five to 15 years. Mr. Williams has four prior felony convictions and at least one misdemeanor. He still has seven months remaining on a class D felony of driving while his license was revoked. The 12-year sentence will run concurrent to his current sentence.

His alleged cohort in his latest run-in with the law, Ms. Berry, was present in the court room for Monday's sentencing. She faces three felony charges - possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, resisting/interfering with arrest and then a separate count of possession of a controlled substance.

The St. Joseph woman's trial setting for all three is next Monday back in front of Mr. Robb.

R.J. Cooper can be reached at rjcooper@npgco.com