A Lansford man was sentenced on Monday morning to a state prison term in four pending criminal cases, including harassment of a prisoner.

Michael E. Mosley, 39, was sentenced to serve a total of 27 to 60 months in a state correctional institution by Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Mosley previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated harassment by a prisoner, felony 3s, and one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police, terroristic threats, driving under the influence and institutional vandalism.

He was arrested for the fleeing charge on July 14, 2018, by Lansford police.

Mosley caused damage to the inside of a Lansford police cruiser and threatened to kill police officers when they were off duty. At the time of the incident he was driving a vehicle with no valid inspection and with no driver’s license.

At 9:40 p.m. on July 14, police were called to the 200 block of East Bertsch Street for a white car speeding up and down Bertsch Street and running stop signs. An officer saw a car matching that description speeding along West Patterson Street and started following it.

The driver of the white sedan turned onto Powell Street at a high speed, squealing the car’s tires, followed by another right onto East Bertsch Street. The officer then turned on his lights and siren but the driver did not stop. The officer then saw the driver run a stop sign at the intersection with Chestnut Street, then went back onto Patterson before turning into a parking spot.

Police said the driver refused commands to put the vehicle in park, turn it off and exit it with his hands in the air. At that point the officer recognized the man from previous incidents as Mosley.

While Mosley eventually got out of the vehicle, he still ignored officers’ commands and officers used “substantial force” to handcuff his hands behind his back. Officers detected a very strong odor of alcohol on Mosley’s breath.

Mosley refused a field sobriety test and threatened the officers that he would find them off duty and kill them. He then kicked the inside of the police vehicle, causing damage to both back-seat doors.

The harassment incidents occurred on July 12, when police were dispatched to a home in the 300 block of West Patterson Street.

The resident said that Mosley came onto his property and was trying to fight a man. He said Mosley had been drinking. The man said that Mosley was trying to fight him because he did not do a handshake right, and believes it was gang-related and he is not part of a gang.

Officer Matthew Houser talked to Mosley, but Mosley said he should get paid for his time and was very uncooperative and would not speak to police before leaving the area.

A short while later Houser was dispatched again because Mosley was back at the apartment door banging on the door.

Summit Hill and Nesquehoning police were called to assist, and when they arrived, Mosley was standing on the front sidewalk, pulled out his cellphone and began to videotape police. Mosley was again uncooperative.

A short while later police were dispatched back to that address after Mosley returned. Mosley was taken into custody, and became violent and began kicking the police car door. Mosley was then transported back to the station. Officers Richard Neikam and Kodie Pituch were monitoring Mosley in the car. Neikam said that Mosley spit in his face, hitting him around his mouth and eyes.

The two harassment counts were filed by Nesquehoning police for incidents at the county prison where Mosley was taken after being charged by Lansford police.

The DUI occurred on Feb. 14, 2018, in Mahoning Township along Mill Road. A blood test revealed a 0.20 BAC.

Defense attorney Matthew J. Mottola, of the public defender’s office, told the court Mosley’s legal problems can all be tied to an alcohol abuse problem. He said Mosley is no problem when he is not drinking alcohol. He also said that Mosley had a “rough” childhood, abandoned by his parents and at one point being homeless.

Assistant District Attorney Brian B. Gazo asked for a state prison term to let people know “we don’t tolerate spitting on police officers.”

Serfass said a state prison term was warranted considering the circumstances involved.

In addition to the prison term, Mosley was ordered to get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, attend and successfully complete an anger management course, get his GED diploma, supply a DNA sample, on the DUI charge pay a fine of $300 and court costs of about $1,000.

He was given credit for 14 days spent in jail on the charges. He will report to the county prison on Friday at 5 p.m. to being serving his term.