MARION COUNTY — A 32-year-old Salem man was sentenced today in Marion County Court to 8-years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, after he pleaded guilty to one of six felony charges against him.

Ian Nicholas Meredith (Source: mugshots.com)
Ian Nicholas Meredith
(Source: mugshots.com)

Ian Nicholas Meredith pleaded guilty to Class 2 felony being a felon in possession of a firearm with a prior conviction.

In exchange for his guilty plea, a second of the same firearms possession charge, along with Class 2 felony charges of aggravated battery of a peace officer, and possession of a stolen car title, Class 1 felony aggravated possession of between 2-5 stolen firearms, and Class 4 aggravated fleeing and eluding were all dismissed.

Meredith was arrested in July after a pursuit with Marion County Sheriff’s deputies that began near Salem and continued to County Line and Airport roads in Centralia where Centralia police joined in the pursuit.

With speeds exceeding 96 miles per hour at one point, the Meredith reportedly managed to avoid stop sticks that were deployed at multiple locations, and even drove into someone’s yard at one location.

Speeds slowed somewhat as the pursuit reached Highway 51 in Centralia and continued north through town. Centralia officers ahead of the pursuit raced to stop traffic at intersections to prevent the subject from colliding with civilians.

The pursuit finally came to a halt near the intersection of Lincoln and Rhodes. One sheriff’s deputy’s squad car was reportedly damaged in the pursuit, but no injuries were reported.

In addition to serving 8-years in prison, Meredith will have to serve 2 years mandatory supervised release, and forfeit all firearms to the sheriff’s department.