Rampage Jackson pleads guilty to fleeing police

Ultimate Fighting Championship athlete Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who was accused of fleeing police in a chase last year, pleaded guilty Thursday in a deal with prosecutors.

Jackson pleaded guilty to one felony count of evading a peace officer and driving against traffic and one misdemeanor count of driving recklessly.

Jackson, who is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 7, 2010, could receive up to six months in jail and probation, according to the terms of the plea deal. Before he is sentenced, Jackson will do 200 hours of community service, get mental health therapy, and pay restitution, prosecutors said.

Jackson was driving south on the 55 Expressway in Costa Mesa July 15 in his lifted 2008 Ford truck when he drove up on the curb and sideswiped two vehicles where traffic slowed at the 55 and 19th St., according to authorities. He continued driving south on Newport Boulevard, prosecutors said. Costa Mesa police picked up the trail nearby when an officer saw Jackson weaving through traffic while talking on the cell phone, authorities said. The truck by that time had a flat tire.

Jackson collided with a Toyota Camry as he kept weaving through traffic while the police gave chase, prosecutors said. The truck then swerved into the center median, going the wrong way into oncoming traffic, and then veered up on the curb just missing a bus stop and sending several pedestrians scrambling, according to prosecutors.

Still, Jackson kept going as police chased him, according to prosecutors, until he was arrested on Balboa Boulevard in Newport Beach.

Jackson was not under the influence of any controlled substances, but examinations showed he was suffering from delirium, prosecutors said.