By Ryan Olson
Chico Enterprise-Record
OROVILLE, Calif. - A 38-year-old transient man was sentenced to five years in state prison after pleading no contest to assaulting a peace officer with his vehicle last month.
James George Harris entered his plea during a hearing Wednesday in Butte County Superior Court. As part of a no-contest plea, Harris stood silent while Judge Robert Glusman convicted him based on evidence.
Harris’ plea was part of a bargain with the prosecution where he agreed to plead no contest and accept the upper term of five years in prison. He had faced additional charges including second-degree robbery and possessing a controlled substance.
On March 24, Harris walked out of the Chico Walmart store with several stolen items. When confronted by store security, he allegedly claimed to have a weapon and fled in a white Ford Festiva.
Police searched the area and found Harris’ vehicle in a parking lot near the Toys R Us store on East 20th Street. When Chico officer Frank Deshler approached what appeared to be an unoccupied car, Harris appeared in the driver’s seat and started the car after Deshler told him to stop.
Harris threw the vehicle in reverse and backed up quickly, striking Deshler with the fender. Harris got away, but was apprehended at a hotel later that evening.
In addition to sentencing Harris to prison, Glusman ordered him to pay restitution if necessary. Upon his release from prison, Harris will also serve three years on parole.
While Harris is eligible to earn time credits in prison, he is not being credited for any of his time in county jail because of a parole violation in an earlier case.