An Ohio man arrested in March of last year entered a guilty plea to the charges against him and received a 10-year sentence.
Christopher Sargent was in Jones County Superior Court Feb. 19. He was ordered to serve the first four years of the 10-year sentence in prison. The negotiated plea consisted of four years for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement and six years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The counts are to run consecutively for a total of 10 years. Superior Court Judge Brenda Trammell accepted the plea. Sargent was represented by defense attorney Gregory Bushway, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore.
Sargent was arrested March 12, 2025, with codefendant Kayla Zarecky.
He was indicted by a Jones County Grand Jury June 3, 2025, on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer (felony), possession marijuana with intent to distribute, possession firearm during commission of felony, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, driving while license suspended (misdemeanor) and possession firearm by convicted felon.
Zarecky was indicted June, 3, 2025, for charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance and possession of a Schedule III controlled substance.
A report of the arrest of Sargent and Zarecky by Jones County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kasey Carr states he was on patrol on Joycliff Road when he was passed by a Toyota Camry.
The vehicle was driven by a male and had a female passenger.
He said when he checked his mirrors, he noticed the vehicle was over the yellow line and driving in the wrong lane.
Carr said when he attempted a traffic stop, the Camry made a turn into a cemetery and stopped. He watched as it started moving again slowly and circled back the exit before exiting back of Joycliff at a high rate of speed.
The lieutenant notified dispatch he was in pursuit, and the chase continued on Gray Highway toward the City of Gray. He said the speeds reached 125 mph, and he noticed black bags being thrown out of the Camry’s windows.
JCSO Deputy Albert Elliott joined the pursuit.
Carr said as they passed the Creekside Store, he saw the vehicle enter the turn lane and then continue driving north in the southbound lane against head-on traffic.
The officer said he remained in the correct lane and followed when the Camry turned on Graham Road. The chase continued turning onto Huckabee Road, then Highway 18 West and an abrupt turn onto Oakview Circle.
When the Camry turned onto Crestview Chase, Carr alerted Elliott it was a dead end. Elliott came in the opposite way to block the road, and the Camry turned into a driveway. The lieutenant said the driver got out of the car and ran but was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.
Carr then turned his attention to the passenger in the car. He said she complied when asked to get out and was taken into custody.
Zarecky identified herself as the owner of the Camry. Carr said Sargent told them he had a parole warrant out of Ohio and did not want to go back to prison.
A vehicle inventory was conducted on the Camry. Carr said a black bag was on the back seat floorboard containing 15 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes, three bags of marijuana and a digital scale. He said a pure THC oil cartridge and a suboxone package were also found.
The lieutenant said an attempt to locate the items thrown from the Camry during the pursuit was not successful.
