Document text
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 Teenager sentenced to jail for freeway incidents ... Updated: Mayor Wheeler says he'll veto Patridge selection ... Medford teen drowns in Applegate Lake ... Teenager sentenced to jail for freeway incidents ... Updated: Mayor Wheeler says he'll veto Patridge selection ... Medford teen drowns in Applegate Lake ... GUILTY PLEA Teenager sentenced to jail for freeway incidents Richard Avery Nuckols sentenced to 60 days for dangerous driving on I-5 Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jul. 22, 2016 at 1:55 PM Updated Jul 22, 2016 at 9:48 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jul. 22, 2016 at 1:55 PM Updated Jul 22, 2016 at 9:48 PM » Social News A young man was sentenced to 60 days in jail after admitting to multiple incidents of dangerous driving on Interstate 5 last year that caused drivers to swerve off the road and one motorcyclist to crash. Richard Avery Nuckols, 19, pleaded guilty Friday to a felony charge of unlawful use of a weapon, the weapon being a vehicle, and misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering for his involvement in four incidents on the freeway near Medford between March and May of 2015, some of which forced vehicles off the road. Tom Harrison with Oregon State Police said went to the Nuckols' Medford home May 11, but the family refused to speak to him. Nuckols' parents have since moved to Eureka, Calif. Harrison said the two most egregious incidents occurred after his unsuccessful visit, one in which Nuckols drove aggressively behind a pack of motorcyclists in his bright blue Dodge sedan on the freeway May 18, causing a cyclist to crash, and a May 21 incident in which he followed a couple in a vehicle too closely before maneuvering in front of their car and aggressively stomping on the brakes, going from about 70 miles per hour to 30 and waving his middle finger at the victims. "He refused to take responsibility," Harrison said. Garren Pedemonte, Nuckols' lawyer, told Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia that Nuckols and his father were exercising their rights at the time of Harrison's visit. "That's not the part that's upsetting," Mejia said. "I hold nothing against him for asserting his constitutional right." Pedemonte said his client, who was 18 at the time, was suffering from depression, which manifested itself in the form of anger. He has since sought counseling treatment. When Mejia asked whether he's taking medication, Nuckols said no. If Nuckols complies with the terms of his probation, he'll have the opportunity to expunge his felony conviction, Pedemonte said. Wearing a striped polo shirt the same color as his car, Nuckols apologized for his actions, saying he's doing his best to "grow and learn" from the incidents. Mejia expressed doubt that depression was at the core of the freeway incidents. "There's something beyond depression going on here," Mejia said, calling Nuckols' behavior "shocking." In addition to getting 60 days in jail, Nuckols had his driver's license revoked for a year and received 18 months probation. He'll be eligible for earned time at the jail, but won't be allowed to be released early and won't be allowed to be transferred to the work center. "I want you to serve a good amount of this in custody," Mejia said, ordering Nuckols to report to jail Friday afternoon. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Jul. 22, 2016 at 1:55 PM Updated Jul 22, 2016 at 9:48 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 2016 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