WOONSOCKET — A Woonsocket man was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for possession of a firearm during two August pursuits during that he allegedly nearly hit three law enforcement officers with a vehicle.
Dustin Feistner, 40, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm after a violent crime conviction and admitted to being a habitual offender with a prior felony conviction on Oct. 31.
On Aug. 7, a Sanborn County deputy responded to a Woonsocket house, where he was reportedly told Feistner had threatened to kill a family member and bury him in the backyard, according to a document filed after Feistner's arrest.
The family member asked that Feistner be charged and taken off the property, and when the deputy opened the door to Feistner's vehicle and asked him to get out, Feistner allegedly drove away, almost hitting the deputy.
A pursuit ultimately began, involving Deputy Jason Coenen, Sanborn County Sheriff Tom Fridley and Feistner, who allegedly ignored multiple commands to get out of the vehicle and instead drove into Woonsocket.
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Fridley was reportedly able to turn his vehicle, which he used to attempt to block Feistner, out of the way of being hit when Feistner drove directly toward him, and Fiestner was also alleged to have run into the side of Coenen's vehicle.
The first pursuit ended for safety concerns, and a second reportedly began at 11:50 p.m., when Feistner allegedly ignored emergency lights, went through Woonsocket and drove toward a patrol vehicle multiple times to run it off the road. After the second pursuit was terminated, officers set up spikes, bringing Feistner's vehicle to a stop on S.D. Highway 34.
Feistner was taken to the ground and handcuffed after allegedly not complying with orders, and officers reportedly found drug paraphernalia in his pocket and vehicle. Methamphetamine, bullets and a Glock 17 9mm handgun were also allegedly found in the vehicle. Feistner was convicted of aggravated assault in 2017, prohibiting him from having a firearm in his possession.
Feistner was charged with aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, a Class 2 felony; possession of methamphetamine, a Class 5 felony; possession of a firearm by a former violent offender and aggravated eluding, both of which are Class 6 felonies; and domestic simple assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. If convicted on all charges, he could have been sentenced to up to 35 years in prison.
Feistner was given credit for four days served in jail and was ordered to pay $606.50 in fines and court costs.
