Lehigh man admits leading police on high speed chases, DUI count

A Lehigh County man admitted in Carbon County court on Thursday leading police on a high-speed chase which ended in a crash injuring himself and a person in the other vehicle.

Benjamin Jay Aponte Jr., 30, of Allentown, pleaded guilty before President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to three counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police and one count each of DUI, recklessly endangering another person and driving under suspension, DUI related.

He was arrested for an incident on Aug. 13 that began in Franklin Township when township police attempted to stop him after observing him driving erratically on a motorcycle at the intersection of state routes 209 and 248. He fled at a high rate of speed southbound on 248.

Township police broke off the chase due to the speeds making it a dangerous pursuit.

The county communications center notified Palmerton police of the chase with Franklin.

Borough police observed Aponte’s motorcycle headed in their direction, but he refused to stop.

Palmerton police then pursued him to the intersection of routes 248 and 873, where Aponte attempted to turn onto 873. He lost control of the bike and crashed into a van, injuring a person in the van.

Also on the same date he was observed by park rangers at Beltzville State Park failing to stop for a stop sign. Rangers pursued him for a time but broke off the chase because of the high speeds and dangerous conditions.

Aponte told the court he is suffering from a traumatic brain injury which has cloudy his memory of what happened.

Nanovic then asked him, “You are not disputing what the commonwealth said you did in these cases?”

Aponte said, “No I am not.”

Nanovic deferred sentencing because Aponte needs a drug and alcohol evaluation on the DUI charge. Nanovic also ordered a presentence investigation report be prepared by the adult probation office.

Aponte will also apply for placement in the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program, house arrest.