A Carbon County man who led police on a two-county extended chase that ended when he crashed his vehicle, was sentenced to a state prison term on Thursday morning in the county court.

Lawrence Michael Mustacchio, 62, of Lehighton, was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve 18 months to seven years in a state correctional institution. He previously pleaded guilty to five criminal counts including to fleeing or attempting to elude police, a felony 3; driving under the influence, a felony 3; and misdemeanor counts of agricultural vandalism, possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine and the summary offense of driving under suspension - DUI related.

He was originally charged with 20 counts with all the other charges dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

He was arrested for an incident on Sept. 21, 2020.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Ryan English of the Lehighton barracks:

At 1:52 p.m. trooper Charles Inserra and English saw a red Ford Ranger failing to operate within a single lane of travel, crossing the double yellow and white lines multiple times while traveling south on Interchange Road in Towamensing Township.

At that time, English activated the emergency lights and siren in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop on Interchange Road at its intersection with Sei Pike Lane, but the driver, later identified as Mustacchio, failed to stop.

During the pursuit, Mustacchio led troopers through multiple fields, yards and parking lots throughout both counties.

At 2:15 p.m., Mustacchio was taken into custody after crashing into a tree in the rear of a home in the 400 block of Green Hill Road, Polk Township.

Police said Mustacchio was disheveled and under the influence of controlled substances, leading troopers to administer partial field sobriety tests to the extent that he was capable due to injuries resulting from the crash.

He admitted to consuming prescription oxycodone, but would not answer when questioned specifically regarding methamphetamine use.

Mustacchio was found to be in possession of one gold storage tin containing about 0.70 grams of suspected methamphetamine; one gold storage tin containing about 1.50 grams of suspected marijuana; one clear/yellow/blue glass smoking device; and one red/gold metal smoking device.

At 3:11 a.m. Mustacchio was transported via West End Community Ambulance to St. Luke’s Monroe Campus to be treated for injuries sustained as a result of the crash.

Mustacchio refused chemical testing and was subsequently treated and discharged. He was then arraigned on the charges and committed to the county prison in Nesquehoning, failing to post bail.

Mustacchio told the court, “I apologize for what I did and to my family. I never should have took off in that car but I did.”

In addition to the jail term, he must make restitution totaling $1,800 for damages done to farm land he drove on, pay a fine of $1,000 for the fleeing count and a fine of $2,500 for the DUI charge, pay a fine of $500 for the suspension count, he must also supply a DNA sample, license suspended for 18 months and pay court costs.

He was given credit for 113 days already spent in jail on the charges. His sentencing was done via video from the county prison.