Log In


Reset Password

Teen who led police on high-speed chase enters guilty plea

A Carbon County teen, who led police on a high-speed chase, entered guilty pleas in Carbon County court on Tuesday.

Devin Austin Marshall, 18, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty to one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police (a felony three) and driving under the influence. In exchange for the plea prosecutors dropped two drug counts.Marshall was arrested on Sept. 5, 2015, along Little Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township by state police at Lehighton. Troopers attempted to stop Marshall for an equipment violation, first observed on Forest Inn Road. He refused to stop and led police on a chase in which speeds reached 85 mph in a 45 zone.After troopers disabled Marshall’s vehicle, a searched was conducted and found was marijuana and drug paraphernalia.Three people under the age of 18 were also riding in the vehicle during the incident.During the pursuit troopers observed Marshall throwing a plastic bag and lit ash out of the vehicle’s window. They said he also repeatedly crossed the center double-yellow line, while traveling at a high rate of speed.The chase continued into Monroe County. Police said that Marshall slowed to about 40 mph to navigate the winding road. It was at that time when troopers initiated a “precision immobilization technique” maneuver, where they intentionally struck the rear quarter panel of the vehicle, causing it to spin and become disabled.Police said Marshall appeared to be under the influence and was in possession of a bag of marijuana, a glass pipe containing marijuana, and rolling papers.He was taken to Palmerton Hospital for a drug test.Marshall told Nanovic he fled because one of the juvenile passengers, a 17-year-old female, was having an anxiety attack and wanted to get her help. However, when Nanovic noted Marshall was actually driving in the opposite direction of the hospital, Marshall then said he was taking the female home.On the fleeing count Nanovic sentenced Marshall to time-served (39 days) to 18 months followed by two years probation. On the DUI charge he was sentenced to serve 72 hours to five years in jail, concurrent with the first count. Marshall was also ordered to pay total fines of $3,500, supply a DNA sample, license suspended for 18 months, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay a $50 monthly supervision fee while on parole and probation.