A Carbon County resident who has a history of fleeing police was resentenced recently in Carbon County court after he was expelled from a state program to help with drug and alcohol addiction.

Vincent Valentini II, 51, of Summit Hill, recently appeared before Judge Steven R. Serfass to be resentenced on charges he previously pleaded to and were sentenced. He also entered guilty pleas in two new cases filed against him.

In total, Serfass resentenced him in the four prior cases and the two new ones to a total of 24 to 84 months in a state correctional institution. He was given credit for a total of 221 days by Serfass and any other time credit to be determined by the Department of Corrections.

In October 2019 Serfass placed Valentini in the state Intermediate Punishment Program for two years. At the time of the sentencing Valentini was told he would serve about seven months in a state correctional institution followed by months in a special, intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in the state system followed by a period of time in a halfway house. If a person fails to complete the program successfully, they are brought back to the sentencing judge and resentenced.

In 2019 Valentini pleaded to one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police, a felony, and recklessly endangering another person for an incident on Oct. 20, 2018, in Lehighton. Police on patrol observed a vehicle blocking part of West Alley. As they approached the vehicle the driver fled, leading them on a chase through several streets of the borough before the driver stopped. The driver was identified as Valentini.

On April 25 he pleaded to two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police and one count of criminal conspiracy - theft.

Case history

According to police, on Aug. 11, 2018, at 9:08 p.m., Summit Hill police saw a blue Subaru southbound on North Chestnut Street traveling at a high rate of speed and almost striking the police cruiser head-on. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued the vehicle along Richards Avenue and Chestnut Street, failing to stop at posted stop signs. The pursuit continued on East Richards Avenue when the driver turned off the headlights on his vehicle in an attempt to avoid detection.

The pursuit continued on with more stop signs being ignored and eventually turning onto Route 902. The vehicle continued on 902 into Mahoning Township when the driver then began to pass vehicles on the left side in a no-passing zone.

The driver continued along Fritz Valley Road in a construction area and then turned around and almost hit the police cruiser head-on and caused the officer to drive off the road to avoid a collision.

Other police departments joined in the pursuit, but the driver was able to avoid arrest. Police later located the Subaru along Furnace Road in Washington Township. The vehicle had moderate damage to the front end. No one was in the vehicle.

Through the course of the investigation, Valentini developed as a suspect. A check revealed his license had been suspended. On Nov. 1, Valentini was interviewed at the county prison in Nesquehoning. He provided a written statement admitting he was the driver involved in the pursuit and said he fled because he was scared and had methamphetamine in the vehicle.

The second incident occurred on Oct. 11, 2018. Police said in the area of Oak and Holland streets, officers saw a white Honda Accord fail to stop for a posted stop sign. The vehicle then stopped in the middle of the intersection. As officers approached the stopped vehicle, the driver, who officers identified as Valentini, backed up, then pulled around the police cruiser and fled, failing to stop for another stop sign.

Police pursued the fleeing vehicle with lights and siren activated. The fleeing vehicle almost struck another vehicle as it fled. The driver of the vehicle that was almost struck told officers the Honda was near the Miners Market on Amidon Street. Police located the vehicle, which was unoccupied.

While at the scene, the defendant was observed coming around a building at the site. He was ordered to get to the ground, but refused. He ignored repeated commands to surrender, but did not and fled on foot. Other police departments responded to assist but the defendant was not found.

It was determined that Valentini was under suspension and has no valid driver’s license. Also, the registration plate on the vehicle was not for that vehicle and he had no insurance.

The vehicle stop occurred on Oct. 6, 2018, also in Summit Hill, where Valentini was charged with having taken a 1996 Ford F250 truck of a borough resident.

New charges

The new charges he entered pleas to were driving under the influence and driving under suspension - DUI related and another fleeing or attempting to elude police charge.

The DUI occurred on March 16 filed by state police along Route 443 following a traffic stop. He refused a test.

The fleeing count was filed for an incident on April 8 along Route 209. State police at Lehighton attempted to stop him for speeding. He led them on a chase that went through Franklin, Penn Forest and Mahoning townships and Jim Thorpe, ending in Summit Hill. At times speeds reached 80 mph.

Valentini told Serfass he had almost finished the state program when he was expelled from it for violating conditions. The violations were not detailed.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo told the court Valentini was no stranger to him. He said he knew the defendant for about 15 to 18 years and at one time represented him when he was in private practice.

Gazo said, “He’s always been polite. When it comes to repeat defendants, he is one of the nicer ones we have ever encountered.”

Defense Attorney Paul J. Levy, of the public defender’s office, acknowledged that Valentini committed yet another fleeing charge, adding, “it is clear to me that he had been involved with drug use again and additionally he was concerned about his son and what his son had been doing well so not the smartest move.”

Serfass said he heard what the defendant had to say and noted the words of support from Gazo. Serfass said Valentini has expressed remorse for his criminal acts. Serfass added, “It is unfortunate that you are in the situation you are in today, sir, particularly with regard to the state IP program.”

Serfass said he also understood what Valentini had said concerning his unsuccessful completion of the state IP program but he had to consider the gravity of the offenses, impact on the community and the lives that the defendant put at risk.

In addition to the prison term Serfass ordered Valentini to make restitution totaling $6,250 for damages incurred in the fleeing cases, supply a DNA sample, zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use and pay court costs of about $1,000. On the DUI charge he must also pay a fine of $2,500 and the suspension count $1,000 along with a license suspension of 18 months.