Rentauskas gets 25 years for shooting at police during pursuit

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A man who police said shot at them while fleeing a pursuit will spend more than two decades behind bars after pleading guilty Tuesday.

Jacob Tyler Rentauskas of Austin, Indiana, appeared in Vigo County Superior Court 6 on Tuesday for a change of plea hearing. Rentauskas pleaded guilty to a level 1 felony charge of attempted murder, a level 2 felony charge of burglary, and a level 4 felony charge of possession of a firearm by a felon.

The charges stem from the events of April 21, 2020, when Rentauskas shot a gun at local law enforcement while fleeing in a vehicle. After crashing his vehicle Rentauskas reportedly then burglarized a local business to steal a second vehicle and continue to flee.

Tuesday after accepting his guilty plea as part of a plea agreement, a Judge Michael Lewis handed down the sentence of 25 years in prison.

Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said the sentence was what he requested in the plea agreement.

“Our policy is that every serious violent felon possessing a firearm must go to prison,” Modesitt said. “And for those that shoot at our officers, a 25-year prison sentence is appropriate. I appreciate each of our officers and the risk they face in doing their job. And we will continue to push for long prison sentences for those that endanger their lives.”

The Prosecutor’s office added that they want to recognize the actions of Detective Sergeant Greg Davis of West Terre Haute Police and Detective Farron Stevens of the Terre Haute Police for their investigation into this case.

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