PULLMAN, WA – The 19-year-old former Washington State University student accused of leading a state trooper on a high speed pursuit in Pullman has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Carson Bailey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor reckless driving in Whitman County Superior Court on Friday. In return for his plea the prosecutor’s office dropped their felony eluding charge.
The chase occurred in late January when the trooper tried to stop Bailey in downtown Pullman for riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Bailey failed to pullover and led the trooper on a chase at speeds around 80 MPH in town. The trooper discontinued the chase because it became too dangerous. He identified Bailey as the rider and located him on College Hill where he was quickly arrested.
Whitman County Superior Court Judge Roger Sandberg agreed with most of the sentencing recommendation from both the prosecution and the defense. Judge Sandberg sentenced Bailey to a month in jail and credited him for time already served. The recommendation called for a year of probation but Judge Sandberg increased that to a possible two years. If Bailey stays out of legal trouble he will be off probation in one year.
Bailey still has a misdemeanor assault case pending in Whitman County District Court which will keep him in jail. He posted bond on his eluding case in February and then allegedly assaulted his girlfriend at Washington State University. Bailey remains in jail on 50,000 dollars bond in the assault case.
