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ORANGE — A man with a lengthily criminal history was sentenced to 75 years on a charge of evading arrest in connection with a 2023 crime spree.

Chadwick Alan McMillen, 36, was found guilty Tuesday in the Orange County 260^th District Court.

Punishment was handed down Thursday, according to Assistant District Attorney Mike Marion.

Evading arrest is but one of the multiple charges filed against McMillen in connection with a January 2023 police chase.

Two-day crime spree

In January 2023, a vehicle was stolen from West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District and later used in a smash and grab at Stateline Valero in Orange.

The following morning police were worked a case with a different stolen vehicle pulling a U-Haul trailer that crashed in a ditch.

This began with a burglar alarm at Horseman’s Store.

As officers were attempting to make contact with the occupant, the vehicle sped away, according to previous reporting.

Officers pursued the vehicle throughout the City of Orange. During the pursuit, the suspect fired several rounds from a shotgun toward the pursuing officers.

Officers continued to pursue until the driver wrecked the stolen vehicle at the intersection of 16th and Cordrey.

The driver exited the vehicle and evaded officers on foot. Officers pursued the suspect; however, he was not immediately apprehended.

Later that afternoon McMillen was located at a home, but he refused to exit the building.

The Orange Regional Tactical Team was contacted and able to peacefully resolve the situation and place McMillen into custody.

Trial, sentencing

Marion said McMillen was only on trial for the evading charge and has multiple charges pending. Some of the pending charges include aggravated assault of a public servant, theft of property, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary of a building, criminal mischief and escape while arrested/confined.

Marion said it is too early to know if McMillen is going to face trial on the other offenses.

Normally the charge of evading arrest carries a two- to 10-year sentence, but because McMillen had two sequential felony convictions, the charge is enhanced to habitual, which carries a sentence of 25 to 99 years or life, Marion said.

One of the previous crimes he is charge with is escape. In April 2023 McMillen reportedly climbed through the Orange County Correctional Facility chapel ceiling and attempted to escape custody.

Correctional staff officers placed the jail on lockdown and contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Office staff as well as available units from the City of Orange Police and Fire Departments. He was located less than an hour later in the ceiling.

Marion said law enforcement did a great job with the case and he is grateful none one was injuries during the January crimes.

He is also thankful for the approximate 15 witnesses who came forward and testified.

“He cause thousands of dollars to businesses and in the community,” Marin said. “We are very grateful to the jury and their verdict.