Man who fled police through post office sentenced

UPDATE @ 6:20 p.m. March 4, 2015: The Carlisle man who escaped police by running through the Lebanon Post Office and stealing a patron's car in January has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Judge Donald Oda II also ordered Nicholas Neeley, 28, to pay $500 in restitution to the patron whose car he used in his getaway. Neeley, a sex offender registered in Montgomery County, was arrested three days after eluding police on Jan. 7 in Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Neeley changed his plea on charges of failure to comply and grand theft of a motor vehicle and found guilty and sentenced in Warren County Common Pleas Court.

Jan. 17, 2015:

A sex offender registered in Montgomery County remains in the Warren County Jail, facing charges stemming from a police chase on Jan. 7 through the Lebanon Post Office into an vehicle left running in the parking lot.

The case stems from a call from a sheriff’s detective in Fort Myers, Florida, to Lebanon police. Detective Wendy Russell said the man’s wife and mother-in-law in Florida were concerned about his welfare.

“There are no criminal charges or anything here. He was just reported missing,” Russell said.

Nicholas L. Neeley, 28, of Carlisle, was arrested three days later in Franklin.

“As we walked through the back yard, Mr. Neeley ran out of the back of 586 Bunker Hill Court right to us. Mr. Neeley was taken into custody without incident,” Franklin Officer Dennis Shannon said in a report.

The case stems from a call from a sheriff’s detective in Fort Myers, Florida, to Lebanon police. Detective Wendy Russell said Neeley’s wife and mother-in-law in Florida were concerned about his welfare.

“There are no criminal charges or anything here. He was just reported missing,” Russell said.

Lebanon police determined the man, Nicholas L. Neeley, 28, of Carlisle, was also wanted on a local warrant and spotted him on Jan. 7 walking out of his girlfriend’s apartment.

“He ran back inside. We knocked multiple times and no one came to the door,” Lebanon Officer Jon Oehler said in a report.

Police were preparing to force themselves into the apartment when he jumped from a second- floor window. Deputies from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office joined in the chase through the neighborhood.

Neeley was able to enter through a rear employee entrance of the post office and run out through the lobby to a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer, unlocked, unattended and running in the parking lot.

“There was no pursuit by any law enforcement agency, and the vehicle was last seen outside Lebanon on Ohio 122.

“There were no vehicle accidents as a result of this event,” Lebanon Police Chief Jeff Mitchell said.

Neeley was arrested three days later in Franklin.

“As we walked through the back yard, Mr. Neeley ran out of the back of 586 Bunker Hill Court right to us. Mr. Neeley was taken into custody without incident,” Franklin Officer Dennis Shannon said in a report.

Neeley was hiding at a sister’s home in Franklin when he was arrested on Jan. 10, according to reports.

He faces charges of theft, trespassing, obstructing official business and a probation violation. He remains in the local jail, pending a court hearing on Jan. 22 in Lebanon Municipal Court.

Neeley’s sex offender designation stems from a juvenile conviction and no further information was available, according to Sgt. Julie Stevens of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

The getaway vehicle has not been recovered, police said.