A Texas man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for fleeing police and possessing meth, after endangering public safety during a 120 mph chase, officials say.

PARKER COUNTY, Texas — A 31-year-old Texas man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to evading police at more than 120 miles per hour and being caught in possession of methamphetamine, according to officials.

The Parker County District Attorney’s Office said Jesus Briceno Carrillo, of Mineral Wells, pleaded guilty Monday to evading arrest with a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance charges and elected to have a jury assess his punishment. 

During his trial, the jury heard from two Parker County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who testified that they began pursuing Carrillo as he fled from the scene of a domestic violence call in a vehicle matching the description given by the 911 caller.

The deputies testified that Carrillo fled north from Weatherford on FM 730 at speeds over 120 mph for about 10 minutes during heavy traffic, officials said.

Traveling near Azle, Carrillo nearly struck several cars as he drove into oncoming traffic and passed vehicles on the shoulder, according to the DA. The pursuit ended when Carrillo turned off FM  730 onto a dead-end street, jumped out of his car, and ran away.

Deputies said Carrillo ran for about 200 yards before they got close enough to shoot him with a Taser. Deputies found a methamphetamine pipe with a small amount of methamphetamine loaded into it in his pocket, officials said.

“At the time Mr. Carrillo was tased, he was reaching towards his waistband,” said District Attorney Jeff Swain.  “From the beginning of this pursuit to the end when the defendant was finally apprehended, this entire situation was fraught with danger, including for the children and parents of three schools he sped past in the late afternoon of the first day of school.  Mr. Carrillo deserved every day of the maximum sentence the jury gave him.”

Carrillo had previously been convicted of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance, two theft of a firearm charges, and two assault family violence charges, according to the DA.

Carrillo testified during the trial and said that, after the birth of his fifth child, which occurred while he was in jail awaiting trial, he was remorseful and a changed man, the DA said in a release.

Assistant District Attorney Mallory Vincent, during her closing argument, told jurors, “[Carrillo] wants to pretend that he’s here to take responsibility for what he’s done, but he couldn’t even be honest with you about what kind of gun he used to shoot at his ex-wife and the mother of his first four children.”

“In my 31 years as a prosecutor in Parker County, I have never seen a jury ask officers to come back to court so they could thank them,” Swain said.  “That’s why Parker County is such a great place to live and to be in law enforcement.”

The DA said Carrillo was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the evading arrest with a vehicle case and 10 years in prison for the possession of a controlled substance case, both maximum sentences for the charges, as they were enhanced due to his criminal record.  Under Texas law, the sentences will run concurrently.

Carrillo has given notice that he intends to appeal the sentence, according to the DA.