27-year-old Jace Waldrop of Fairfield was sentenced Tuesday by Judge Denton Aud in Wayne County Circuit Court to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by a one-year term of Mandatory Supervised Release after his release.
The charges stem from a February 7th incident, when Wayne County 911 reported that Waldrop was driving a blue Chevrolet Impala north on US Highway 45 while allegedly under the influence of pills and in possession of a loaded firearm and drug paraphernalia.
A Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle, identified Waldrop as the driver, and attempted a traffic stop. Waldrop immediately sped away, reaching speeds over 100 mph southbound on US 45. Fairfield Police later clocked the vehicle at 97 mph before Waldrop finally stopped at 1006 S 1st Street.
The vehicle’s owner, Hannah M. Vaught, later arrived at the scene and provided written consent for officers to search the vehicle.
Waldrop’s plea agreement led to the dismissal of several other charges, including those related to driving a vehicle involved in a high-speed pursuit, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was credited with 74 days already served in County Jail.