Michael Nash, 31, of Visalia was sentenced to eight years in state prison for two counts of assault on a peace officer, evading arrest, resisting an executive officer, battery on a peace officer causing injury, and hit and run.

On April 12, 2007, Nash was driving in the city of Porterville when two California Highway Patrol Officers observed him run a stop sign in a residential area. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle and a high speed pursuit ensued. During the course of the pursuit Nash went over 100 mph, drove with his lights off, drove in the opposing lane of traffic and ran several stop signs. The pursuit went by a local business just as patrons were heading home for the evening. Nash eventually crashed in a pomegranate orchard, and fled.

The California Highway Patrol later located Nash in Visalia. While taking Nash into custody Nash violently resisted arrest. One of the officers was struck in the eye area, cutting the officer’s eye lid from the corner of his eye to his eye brow. A second officer was bit twice by Nash’s dog.

The Honorable Judge Paul Vortman sentenced Nash to eight years in state prison and $3,740.00 in fines. In addition, Nash was ordered to pay for the uniform of the officer who was bitten by his dog, and restitution to the injured officer and the property owner of the pomegranate orchard where the crash occurred. The two counts of assault on a peace officers are "strikes", meaning that in the future, if Nash commits other felonies, he could be prosecuted as a "three striker".

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Michelle Wallis of the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office and investigated by Sgt. Don Tripp and Officers Ken McCord and Will Simco of the California Highway Patrol.

Contact Person:

William Yoshimoto, Assistant District Attorney 733-6411