Serving the High Plains

Suspect in chase accepts plea deal

One of the suspects accused of a high-speed police chase through Tucumcari and an attempted shooting of officers in May accepted a plea deal that will put him behind bars in New Mexico for more than five years.

Scott Sherbondy, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Sept. 25 agreed in district court to plead guilty to resisting, evading or obstructing an officer during an arrest, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated fleeing a law-enforcement officer and receipt, transportation or possession of a firearm by a felon. The latter three counts are fourth-degree felonies.

According to online court documents, District Judge Albert Mitchell Jr. sentenced Sherbondy was sentenced a total of 5 1/2 years in prison with no time suspended. He must pay restitution, court costs and fees, plus provide a DNA sample to the New Mexico Department of Corrections and pay a $100 fee to the agency for indexing the sample.

Two counts of aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon and one count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle were dropped as part of the plea deal.

Sherbondy also faces extensive prison time in Colorado. He was convicted of second-degree sexual assault in 1999 in that state and is a registered sex offender there. District Attorney Timothy Rose stated in an email Sherbondy "has a detainer hold from Colorado where he is serving life parole and is expected to serve a life sentence of incarceration upon his return according to prosecuting office in Colorado."

He later told police he and alleged partner in crime, Brandy Campbell, 37, also of Colorado Springs, were traveling together outside of Colorado because both were wanted there for parole violations. Sherbondy said he had cut off his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet and did not want to go back to prison.

According to a transcript from the Tucumcari court hearing, Sherbondy said "I will die in prison" and would "accept that part."

Campbell drove the reportedly stolen Volvo car during the police chase. She is charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon and aggravated fleeing a law-enforcement officer, both fourth-degree felonies. A change-of-plea hearing on Campbell's case is set before district court at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 16.

On May 14, Quay County sheriff's deputies received a report of Sherbondy being wanted by Colorado authorities for escaping from parole. He was described as being in a white 2013 Volvo S60 car with Colorado plates.

Deputy Christopher Valdez saw the vehicle on Interstate 40 in eastern Quay County, identified one of the subjects inside as Sherbondy and began the pursuit at speeds that reached over 110 mph after the driver refused to stop. The vehicle exited I-40 in Tucumcari, traveled north on First Street, stayed on the Highway 104 overpass and continued north on Second Street at speeds of nearly 90 mph and ran through at least one set of red lights.

The driver tried to make a left turn onto Maple Avenue and suddenly stopped, causing Valdez's vehicle to crash into the rear of the Volvo. That led to the Volvo overturning and crashing in a yard in the 800 block of North Second Street.

Valdez heard a large bang shortly after the crash he thought to be a gunshot. Officers did not return fire.

Sherbondy and Campbell stayed in the wrecked vehicle and refused to exit for about two hours. A Tucumcari police officer negotiated with them during the standoff as authorities blocked Highway 104 and Maple Avenue.

Sherbondy and Campbell eventually surrendered without incident. They were taken to Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari for treatment of minor injuries.

After the arrests, an officer found a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver on the Volvo's rear passenger side door. The New Mexico State Police Crime Scene Team later found a spent casing in the revolver and found the exit point of a bullet through the car's front windshield.