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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Three elections that matter right now ... The Concord launches ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 20, 1915 ... Our View: Three elections that matter right now ... The Concord launches ... Mail Tribune 100: Oct. 20, 1915 ... CENTRAL POINT MAN String of crimes nets Central Point man 4-plus year sentence Defendant led police on high-speed chase Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 4:29 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 4:29 PM » Social News A Central Point man who caused a power outage in Medford in March during a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle pleaded guilty Wednesday to a host of felony charges in multiple cases. Jackson County Circuit Judge Lorenzo Mejia sentenced Nelson Cody Ray Martinez, 20, to four years and eight months in prison for eight felony convictions of attempting to elude, unauthorized use of a vehicle, burglary and assault in nine different cases. Martinez pleaded guilty to the charges in a plea agreement consolidating the cases and giving some credit for time served. Mejia said Martinez's actions are painful for the victims and those who care about him and are a heavy burden on a man so young. "I have to tell you, this is sad," Mejia said to Martinez. "You have not thrown your life away. But you have made a big dent in your forward progress." Mejia urged Martinez to ignore the bad influences he'll face in prison. "You need to turn this around, and you're going to 'thug school,'" Mejia said. Martinez's attorney, Michael Kellington, said prison time will allow his client to focus on sobriety. "The commonality is that in all these incidents he's been high," Kellington said. In the March 18 crash, Martinez was driving a stolen 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup when he attempted to elude Jackson County sheriff's deputies on southbound Crater Lake Avenue. Martinez crashed head-on into a utility pole near Keene Way and Roberts Road, splintering the pole and causing the outage. Martinez was also convicted of second-degree burglary and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in a Jan. 21 incident on Michael Road, Central Point; a misdemeanor assault charge stemming from a Feb. 15 fight over a girl; a felony second-degree assault charge over another fight on July 15; and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle on Feb. 25. He pleaded guilty to another stolen vehicle charge and a misdemeanor reckless endangering charge stemming from July 6, when Martinez fled from Phoenix police near Fern Valley Road and Pear Tree Lane and crashed the car on a sharp corner on Fern Valley Road. For prosecuting attorney Nick Geil, the streets are safer with Martinez behind bars. "It's a just result. The community needed to be protected from Mr. Martinez," Geil said. Reach newsroom assistant Nick Morgan at [email protected]. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 4:29 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501