• LESLIE WILBER - Victoria Advocate
• Originally published May 15, 2008 at 5:49 a.m., updated May 15, 2008 at 5:49 a.m.

A 29-year-old admitted he led police in a car chase, which ended with him pulling out a pistol.

Thomas Marcus Mistrot said although he waved a Colt .22 toward one of the officers on Nov. 1, he never aimed it at anyone and asked a judge to sentence him accordingly.

Victoria County District Judge Robert Cheshire listened to the evidence in Mistrot’s sentencing Wednesday. Mistrot was convicted Friday on two counts of aggravated assault of police officers, two counts of deadly conduct and admitted to evading arrest in a car and illegally possessing a firearm as a felon.

Mistrot led police on a chase from a house where methamphetamines were being cooked, District Attorney Stephen Tyler said.

Mistrot finally stopped his car on the 500 block of North Street, Tyler said. There, he jumped from his car, waving a gun, Tyler said.

Mistrot said he was using drugs that night. His mother recently died while he was in prison and he wanted an officer to shoot him, he said.

Mistrot said he’s never been able to kick his meth or cocaine addiction in the past, but he thinks he can now because he was recently baptized and accepted Jesus as his savior.

Mistrot spent 90 days in lock down after he was arrested, with nothing but a Bible to read, he said.

“We are not dealing with his soul,” Tyler said. “We are dealing with his conduct.”

Mistrot said he didn’t want to hurt anyone, but was baiting officers so they would shoot and kill him.

Police Chief Bruce Ure said it’s important to prosecute people who attack officers, but the timing for the sentencing is poignant.

“The irony is the sentencing phase is occurring during National Police Week,” Ure said.

Tyler asked for the maximum life sentence.

Ure said he agrees with the recommendation.

“This man turned and pointed a gun at my police officers,” Ure said. “Thankfully, this criminal is off the streets.”

Cheshire is reviewing evidence and said he would announce Mistrot’s sentence Friday.

“You shouldn’t have had the weapon,” Cheshire told Mistrot on Wednesday. “You shouldn’t have taken the weapon out of the car. You shouldn’t have been under the influence of Xanax.”

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