Three strikes: Sonoma drunk driver gets 15 years

The Sonoma man who crashed into an occupied car while trying to evade police in a high-speed chase plead no contest today to the January 10 spree, a deal that will put him in state prison for 15 years.

Prosecutors said Jason Patrick Smith, 44, tried to evade officers on Highway 101 between Windsor and Santa Rosa. When Smith veered into the Steele Lane exit, he crashing into another vehicle, injuring both occupants of that vehicle.

A blood test later showed Smith’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.14 percent.

At the time, Smith was on parole for prior convictions of recklessly evading law enforcement, and making criminal threats – a conviction that acted as a prior “strike” to enhance his current sentence.

The charges in the January 10 crash count as strikes two and three: DUI causing great bodily injury, and recklessly evading the police resulting in serious bodily injury.

District Attorney Ravitch said Smith once again chose to put the community at risk by driving under the influence and driving recklessly.

“Considering his past criminal activity combined with his present offense, we believe the lengthy prison sentence is appropriate,” said.

Smith must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.