Suspect in High Speed Chase Pleads Guilty

ST. CLOUD -- The driver who led authorities on a high speed chase from St. Augusta to Sauk Rapids has pleaded guilty.

29-year-old James Benson plead guilty to one count of fleeing police in a motor vehicle Monday. He'll get a stayed sentence of 17 months in prison and will serve 90 days in jail.

The Cokato man will also be on probation for four years and will have to pay restitution to repair squad cars and other damage caused by the chase.

Benson led authorities on a 23 mile chase which started south of St. Augusta, traveled through St. Cloud and ended in Sauk Rapids. The chase lasted about 25 minutes and ended when a Stearns County Sheriff's Deputy was able to spin Benson's car out at Benton Drive and Highway 15.

Benson remains jailed until his sentencing hearing November 29th.