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Ingleside teen denies charges from wild police chase

An Ingleside teen pleaded not guilty Tuesday to numerous felony charges filed after authorities said he led police on a wild chase through northwestern Lake County in November that resulted in several injuries.

Ronald Maas, 18, faces up to 30 years in prison if found guilty on charges ranging from attempted murder to aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, theft, and failure to report an accident resulting in injury.

Prosecutors also have charged Maas with counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating compounds.

He remains held in the Lake County jail on $2 million bail. His trial is tentatively scheduled for June 1. Defense attorney James Bertucci did not comment after Maas' arraignment in front of Judge Victoria Rossetti.

Maas spoke softly when answering yes or no questions in court Tuesday morning, but the teen looked healthier than he has in previous months. A cast is off his broken arm, he walked without trouble, and other injuries he received in the high-speed chase seem to have healed.

Authorities said Maas was wanted on an outstanding burglary warrant when police spotted him driving a stolen 2009 Ford sedan near Washington Street and Cedar Lake Avenue in Round Lake at 10:30 p.m. Nov. 13. Police followed the stolen vehicle for a bit, authorities said, but shut down the chase to prevent injuries.

The stolen vehicle was found rolled over in Lake Villa about 15 minutes later, authorities said, but Maas then stole a truck, picked up a 15-year-old girl, and took off again.

He was spotted and chased by officers in Round Lake, Grayslake, Round Lake Heights and unincorporated Lake County over the course of the next three hours, authorities said. Maas was shot in the cheek after authorities said he tried to ram the stolen truck into a police squad car.

The chase ended at about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 14 after Maas hit a passenger car on Route 45 near Third Lake, authorities said. He left the scene on foot, but was arrested trying to steal another vehicle from a nearby farm, police said.

Prosecutors said Maas had a .13 blood-alcohol level, well over the legal limit, when tested after the crash, and that traces of cannabis, cocaine and opiates were found in his system.

Maas is due back in court on Feb. 24 for a case management hearing.

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