Trial begins for Ingleside driver charged in police chase
An Ingleside teen's “choice” to steal cars while intoxicated in November 2014 resulted in several crashes and multiple injuries to himself and others, a Lake County prosecutor said Tuesday.
However, defense attorney Eric Rinehart said Ronald Maas didn't try to murder anyone, despite the charges filed against him.
“You can do bad things and make mistakes and not attempt to murder someone,” Rinehart said during his opening statement in Maas' trial.
Maas, 19, 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, failure to report an accident resulting in injury, and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating compounds. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is held being in the Lake County jail on $2 million bail.
Authorities said Maas was wanted on a burglary warrant when police spotted him driving a stolen 2009 Ford sedan near Washington Street and Cedar Lake Avenue in Round Lake about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 2014. Police followed the vehicle for a time but ended the chase to prevent injuries, authorities said.
The vehicle was found rolled over in Lake Villa about 15 minutes later.
There, Maas stole a Ford F-350 pickup truck and drove off with a 15-year-old passenger, police said.
During the next three hours, he was spotted and chased by officers in Round Lake, Grayslake, Round Lake Heights and unincorporated Lake County, authorities said.
The biggest point of contention in court Tuesday focused on when Maas was shot in the cheek by a police officer.
Authorities said a Round Lake Heights officer shot Maas when Maas tried to hit officers with a vehicle at Route 134 and Forest Avenue in Round Lake.
However, Rinehart claims Maas was driving away when the police officer drew his weapon and fired.
“Ronnie Maas didn't attempt to murder anyone,” Rinehart told the jury. “(The officer) did not fire his gun at Ronnie Maas as he was driving right at him.”
The chase ended about 1:30 a.m. Nov. 14 after Maas hit a car on Route 45 near Third Lake, authorities said. He ran away and was arrested trying to steal another vehicle, police said.
Prosecutors have said Maas had a .13 blood-alcohol level, well over the legal threshold, when tested after the crash. He also had traces of cannabis, cocaine and opiates in his system, authorities said.