LOCK HAVEN - William Allen Payne-Blakely, 27, of Lorrain Ohio, pled No Contest this week to charges related to his August 2021 attempt to flee a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Clinton County.  Payne-Blakely entered pleas to Felony 3 Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer, Felony 3 Possession of a Firearm Without a License, and Misdemeanor DUI on Tuesday morning.  

The plea was entered two days before he was scheduled to go on trial for the incident before Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael F. Salisbury on March 3rd.  District Attorney Dave Strouse and defense attorney Fred Lingle had already selected a jury on the case and were scheduled to begin the trial at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.  Following the entry of his plea, Payne-Blakely was immediately sentenced to State Prison for a maximum term of 10 years, and eligibility for parole after 5 years.

Payne-Blakely had been driving a large SUV on I-80 Westbound in August when another motorist found his vehicle traveling approximately 30mph in the middle of the highway.  The other motorist observed Payne-Blakely with his windows down, and lighting what appeared to be some type of smoking device as he drove.  The other driver reported that he could actually smell marijuana due to the amount of smoke coming out of the vehicle's windows.

When Trooper Brian Kitko of the Pennsylvania State Police responded, he observed Payne-Blakely driving erratically, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.  Payne-Blakely refused to stop and proceeded to lead Kitko and other Troopers on an 18 mile pursuit that eventually concluded at the Milesburg exit where fellow Troopers deployed a tire deflation device and disabled Payne-Blakely's vehicle.  Payne-Blakely was taken into custody and Kitko located a .45 caliber pistol on his passenger seat along with a small amount of crack cocaine and marijuana.  Payne-Blakely was found to be on parole in the state of Ohio, and still faces additional incarceration in that state once his sentence is complete in Pennsylvania.