Man Sentenced To 40 Years For Evading Police In Vehicle

CONROE, TX — A man was sentenced to 40 years in prison last week for evading arrest in a motor vehicle in an incident from 2018.

Edward Rodriguez, 31, of Conroe was sentenced in the 435th District Court by Judge Kristin Bays on Friday, according to court documents.

Around 5 a.m. on November 24, 2018, Rodriguez fled in a stolen 2016 Dodge Charger when Splendora police tried to pull him over for a traffic violation, according to a Montgomery County District Attorney's Office news release.

The resulting car chase covered 20 miles in 11 minutes and reached speeds of 150 mph, ending when Rodriguez slammed into a Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable's Office patrol car after exiting Highway 59 at Aldine Bender Road in Houston, authorities said. No one was injured in the crash.

According to the District Attorney's Office, prosecutors submitted evidence during the trial that Rodriguez is an admitted member of the Tang Blast gang. Rodriguez also has several prior convictions, including burglary of a habitation, theft and unlawful carry of a weapon.

Because the jury found that he used the stolen vehicle as a deadly weapon, Rodriguez will have to serve at least half of his 40-year sentence before being eligible for parole, according to the release.

"Mr. Rodriguez is a habitual offender who make a habit of trying to avoid accountability," Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said in the release. "Now accountability has caught up with him, and he will have at least two decades to think about his life choices."