A Gap man will serve at least a decade in prison for trying to strike a pair of deputy sheriffs with his vehicle when the sheriffs tried to arrest him for a robbery a week earlier.
Clinton L. Young III pleaded guilty Monday to felony counts of aggravated assault (four counts), disarming a law-enforcement officer (two counts), robbery, and other charges.
In exchange for the pleas, Young, 27, will serve 10 to 20 years in prison, in accordance with a plea agreement arranged by Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson.
Wilson said Young placed many lives in danger during his attempts to flee. The deputies involved were in court for the plea and sentence.
Lancaster County Judge Howard Knisely accepted the plea terms and ordered sentence.
On Monday, Young admitted to robbing a Target store in Warwick Township on Sept. 7. A week after the robbery, when deputies tried to arrest him at a Christiana home, Young fled in a car, driving directly at two deputies from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit.
One deputy fired at the vehicle. No one was struck. Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman determined that use of force was justified.
Deputies continued to pursue Young for about three miles before his car became disabled on Noble Road.
There, Young physically confronted a deputy, attempting to take the deputy’s firearm from its holster. Another deputy subdued Young with a Taser.
Lancaster County Detective Andrew Morgan filed charges regarding the incidents with the deputies. Northern Lancaster County Regional police Detective Theresa Stauffer charged Young with the Target robbery.
Young also pleaded guilty to unrelated charges, including retail theft, resisting arrest and drug charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright