SMETHPORT — A Bradford man will serve prison time and pay $100,000 for a police chase in which he drove into Bradford’s water treatment plant.
Richard I. Foster, 36, was sentenced Thursday in McKean County Court before President Judge John Pavlock for charges in two new criminal cases, as well as for a revocation. Foster will serve 18 months to five years in state prison, as well as pay $100,000 in restitution to the Bradford City Water Authority for damage he caused when he hit the water treatment plant with a vehicle.
On Dec. 17, Foster pleaded guilty in one case to charges of resisting arrest, false identification to a law enforcement officer and possession of a controlled substance; and in the second he pleaded guilty to fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, criminal mischief, possession of an offensive weapon, three counts of DUI-controlled substance and three summary traffic violations.
When given a chance to speak on his own behalf at Thursday’s sentencing, the only message Foster had was to “thank everybody for doing their job.”
Because Foster has neither income — since he is in prison — nor assets, Pavlock set restitution payments to $20 per month.
Pavlock acknowledged it would take a very long time for Foster to pay off restitution at that rate, but explained that it would also be a problem if he set payments at a sum that Foster could not afford. The payment schedule will be subject to change if Foster’s financial situation changes.
Foster entered the guilty plea on Dec. 17 to allegations that on Aug. 22, he possessed small baggies containing residue of methamphetamine. When a state trooper tried to arrest Foster, he tried to eat a baggy, fought with the trooper and provided a false name to the trooper.
Then, on Oct. 30 in Bradford City, Foster failed to bring his vehicle to a stop when a police officer used audible and visual signals in an attempt to pull him over. Foster accelerated and continued to the end of West Corydon Street, where he intentionally drove into a yellow gate, then drove into the Bradford City Water Authority plant. Also, he possessed a black-handled dagger, and he tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine and metabolites of marijuana.
