MARION COUNTY — A 23-year-old Cairo man was sentenced this week in Marion County Court to 4-years in prison, after he pleaded guilty to one of the lesser felony charges against him.

Todd Lee pleaded guilty Tuesday to Class 3 felony distribution of between 30 and 500 grams of cannabis, in exchange for the dismissal of two more serious counts of Class X felony armed violence, Class 3 felony possession of a sawed-off shotgun, Class 3 felony being a felon in possession of a firearm, and misdemeanor resisting a peace officer.

Lee was arrested in October when as a passenger he fled from a vehicle involved in a police pursuit in Centralia.

The pursuit began when a CPD officer attempted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by 21-year-old Keenan Parson, of Marion.

The pursuit ended when the car crashed into the porch of a home in the 600 block of East Kerr.

Both Parson and Lee fled from the scene. Parson was quickly apprehended hiding behind a house, and Lee was captured a short time later walking down the street.

While searching the area for the subjects, officers reportedly located a 45 caliber handgun and a shotgun they say were dropped during the foot pursuit.

More than 150 grams of cannabis, as well as ammunition were found during a search of the vehicle.

Parson remains in the Marion County Jail, awaiting a jury trial on similar charges.