A McConnells man was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for his part in a burglary at a Union County race track last Fall.

Ted Robert Brindle Jr., of 393 Love St., pleaded guilty to grand larceny and third-degree burglary. Circuit Judge Edward Miller of Greenville gave Brindle concurrent five-year sentences on both counts and also ordered Brindle to pay restitution.

Brindle was among a group of men accused of taking items from the Union County Motorcross Association on 2195 Carlisle-Whitmire Highway.

On Sept. 17, 2008, an employee told Cpl. Wendy Childers that a lock had been cut and the building and two campers were damaged at the track. Items stolen included tools, six cases of Vitamin Water and Powerade drinks, a Brother laser printer a Sony projector and other electronics and tents. Damage was estimated at $200 and the stolen items were worth $3,700.

Brindle and his co-defendants were arrested by the Union County Sheriff’s Office after they tried to sell some of the stolen items at an auction house in Whitmire.

Drug and other charges

A Cowpens man who led law officers on a lengthy chase was sentenced to three years in prison Tuesday.

Willie Martin, 29, of 145 Washington Road, pleaded guilty to failure to stop for a blue light, trafficking cocaine, assault with intent to kill and possession of a stolen vehicle worth over $5,000.

On Nov. 6, 2007, narcotics officers provided four ounces of a cocaine look-alike to an operative with a plan to attempt to sell it to a man known as “Yang” — later identified as Martin — who would be driving a white Cadillac Escalade. The operative and Martin were to meet in the parking lot of the Mini Mart in Jonesville.

The informant had talked with Martin by phone several times.

The informant drove into the parking lot, which was under surveillance by Lt. John Sherfield, Lt. David Kitchens, State Constable Billy Bennett and Investigator Mickey Parker.

Martin arrived, got into the informant’s vehicle and purchased the cocaine look-alike for $2,050. He then got out of the vehicle and got back into his Escalade, which was parked near the fuel pumps.

The informant drove away. Narcotics officers drove into the parking lot and attempted to block the Escalade in. Martin drove away and turned right, heading north toward Spartanburg on the Furman Fendley Highway.

Narcotics officers activated the blue lights and sirens on their vehicles, but Martin increased his speed. As the officers pursued the Escalade, Martin tried to run Kitchens out of the roadway by swerving at his patrol vehicle several times.

Officers continued the pursuit into Spartanburg County, where they were joined by Pacolet Police and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office.

The pursuit went through several streets and then crossed Highway 29 and went toward Mary Black Memorial Hospital. Sherfield pursued Martin into a residential area where he drove through a yard, down and embankment and then onto the railroad tracks and continued toward the City of Spartanburg. Sherfield lost sight of the vehicle, but it was spotted moments later by a helicopter from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. The vehicle had been abandoned and a search by law enforcement and K-9 units revealed that Martin possibly had run back toward Highway 29.

Later that day, Sherfield was notified by Spartanburg County Sheriff’s deputies that the owner of the vehicle, Stephanie Fullenwinder, had called and reported that her vehicle was stolen.

Officers took the Escalade back to Union County. They found a receipt inside the vehicle where someone had purchased $40 worth of minutes on a cell phone. The number was the same one the informant had used to call Martin.

Officers went to the Mini-Mart Wednesday and reviewed a surveillance tape which showed Martin making purchases in the store. Officers also subpoenaed phone documents which showed that Martin was the owner of the phone used to call and make the drug deal. Documents also revealed he had changed his number on the afternoon of the chase.

The informant positively identified Martin from a photo lineup. Martin also was identified as the person seen in the parking lot of the convenience store and the person they chased.

Also, Deputy Mark Notboom with the Spartanburg County, who took the stolen vehicle report from Ms. Fullenwinder in Boiling Springs, saw Martin’s new cell phone number on Ms. Fullenwinder’s cell phone.

The following people pleaded guilty Monday or Tuesday in General Sessions Court before Circuit Judge Edward Miller of Greenville:

Jeffrey Bennett, 342 Sprouse Road, Jonesville, to petit larceny, given credit for time served since Jan. 6; to financial transaction card theft and financial transaction card fraud, five years suspended to three years probation, restitution and $500 to the public defender fund.

Joshua Falls, 408 Meansville Road, to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, eight years suspended to nine months, three years of probation, $500 and 15 days public service.

Robert Floyd, 305 Fairview St., Jonesville, to distribution of a controlled substance, three years suspended to 30 months probation and $500 to the public defender fund.

Timothy Fowler, 244 Bishop Road, Jonesville, to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, three years suspended to two years probation and 10 days public service.

Robert Gilliam, 132 Sims Drive, Union, to distribution of crack, second offense, three years concurrent with present sentence.

Michael Mitchell, no address available, to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, three years suspended to two years probation, 10 days public service and $500 to the public defender fund.

Kayla Murphy, 105 Partridge Drive, Union, to possession of a controlled substance, 30 days.

Collin Palmer, 2698 Cross Keys Highway, Union, to criminal domestic violence, $150 suspended upon completion of batterer’s treatment.

Casey Roach, gave a post office box as address, Union, to assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, three years, given credit for time served, suspended to three years probation, 15 days public service and $500 to the public defender fund.

Michael Roberts, 254 Farrow Road, Jonesville, to assault of a high and aggravated nature, three years suspended to three years probation, restitution and $500 to the public defender fund; to malicious damage to property, given credit for time served.

April Robertson, 112 Robertson Road, Union, to forgery, two years.

Alexander Sims, 111 Clear Branch Road, Carlisle, to petit larceny, given credit for time served.

Tammy Scruggs, 289 Estes Road, Union, to attempted forgery, four years suspended to credit for time served, two years probation and 40 hours public service.

Dexter Smith, 525 Kelly Road, Union, to criminal domestic violence, second offense and assault and battery, given credit for time served and ordered to obtain batterer’s treatment.

Kelvin Williams, 400 Neal Shoals Road, Union, to first-degree burglary, seven years suspended to 30 months probation, obey Family Court order.

Keith Woods, 126 Perrin Ave., to distribution of crack, three years, given credit for time served since Dec. 1, 2008.