A man from St. Louis County has been sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm following a police chase that ended in a serious accident.
Juan Goodrich, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Tuesday. Goodrich had entered his guilty plea in August.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on April 2, 2024, when an officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department observed Goodrich running a red light at North Kingshighway Boulevard and Natural Bridge Avenue while driving a 2014 Chrysler 200. Goodrich did not stop for police and continued to flee at speeds over 80 miles per hour, disregarding additional traffic signals and stop signs. A computer check revealed his license plate was invalid.
The officer discontinued the pursuit for safety reasons, but Goodrich kept speeding until he ran another red light and collided head-on with a 2009 Nissan Maxima. The driver of the Maxima, a 52-year-old woman, was trapped inside her vehicle and suffered major injuries.
After the crash, Goodrich exited his car carrying an AR-15-style rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition and attempted to run away. He dropped the weapon after stumbling but continued fleeing before being apprehended by police. He later admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane prosecuted the case.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting violent offenders who endanger public safety,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane.
