Man who led police on high speed chase into Lebanon pleads guilty to all charges

Charles Bill (York County Jail photo)

DOVER - The Berwick man who led Somersworth, Berwick and Maine State police on a high speed chase through four towns last January pleaded guilty on Thursday to several charges connected with the case including a habitual offender charge that will keep him in prison for at least one to three years.

Besides the habitual offender sentence, Charles Bill, 33, of School Street, was also sentenced to 12 months for a misdemeanor-level offense of disobeying a police officer.

Bill also pleaded guilty to two violations of reckless conduct and improper plates, taking additional jail time in lieu of paying those fines.

The incident began when the Somersworth Police Department advised Berwick Police they were attempting to stop a white 2002 Mitsubishi Gallant for several criminal motor vehicle violations around 9:40 p.m. on Jan. 27

Somersworth Police called off the pursuit at the state line and notified Berwick Police that the suspect vehicle had gone into Maine.

The Berwick Police Department located the vehicle on Route 236 and tried to stop the vehicle, which led police on a chase for more than 40 miles through Berwick, Lebanon and Milton, before returning to Lebanon.

The chase ended when Maine State Police Trooper Michael Lane made contact with the fleeing vehicle, causing the vehicle to spin out on Heath Road.

Bill was taken into custody and charged with eluding an officer. Bill had originally fled from authorities due to the fact he knew he had several active warrants for his arrest, according to Berwick Police.

Bill was wanted out of Maine for a probation violation for burglary as well as a probation violation for check forgery out of New Hampshire.

Berwick Detective Ron Lund later charged Bill with aggravated trafficking in Schedule "W" Drugs for attempting to conceal more than 40 grams of heroin in a body cavity while being admitted to the York County Jail.

A female passenger in the vehicle was initially detained but later released from custody.

The status on the Maine drug charges was not immediately available.