Real estate agent who led Lynn police on high-speed chase gets time served

SALEM – A Brockton real estate agent who led Lynn police on a high speed chase and was later convicted of negligent operation of a motor vehicle by a Superior Court jury received 18 months in jail, deemed served.Stephan Myers, 24, who last lived at 83 North Main St., went on trial on charges of carrying a firearm without a license, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, buying and receiving a stolen firearm over $250 and negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with his arrest in Lynn last May 3.A 12-person jury deliberated for about one hour, returning a split decision late Monday afternoon, finding him guilty of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, but acquitted him on the more serious firearm charges.He was sentenced Tuesday morning to serve 18 months in jail, deemed served, by Judge Timothy Q. Feeley who presided over the three-day trial.Feeley dismissed a fifth charge of receiving a stolen license after defense lawyer John V. Apruzzese argued that there was not enough evidence presented at trial to warrant a jury decision and the judge agreed.The incident began shortly after midnight, when a Lynn police officer asked Myers to move his gray 2004 Infinity G-35 with a Florida license plate, which was double parked on Broad Street.After a few minutes, Myers sped away at a high rate of speed and police chased after him.In the meantime, police checked the license plate which revealed it may have been stolen.Myers at one point managed to elude police for a period of time and ditched the car in a driveway on King Street.Police found the vehicle as Myers was walking away. When they arrested him they found a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun in a flower bed nearby and also charged him with a series of firearm charges.Myers maintained at trial that the firearm was not his and the jury agreed.The commonwealth dropped the charge of receiving a stolen motor vehicle prior to the commencement of the trial.Assistant District Attorney Christina Pujals Ronan argued for the maximum punishment of two years in jail given the nature of the facts, which she said included a high speed chase on the streets in Lynn to the Swampscott line.She also cited Myers’ past history with the courts involving motor vehicle offenses.Apruzzese pointed out that Myers had successfully completed his probation on his prior cases. He noted his family support, saying his mother had flown up from Florida to be with her son at trial.He explained to Feeley that his client has already spent 332 days in jail awaiting trial on the case and has “realized he needs to get his act together.”Myers addressed the judge, telling him he has had a lot of time to sit back and reflect and it has “awakened” him.In handing down the punishment, Feeley noted that during the police pursuit, Myers went through two stop signs and the car at one point was actually airborne, he said, as police cruisers were chasing him with their lights and sirens on.Lynn Police officer Jeff Trahant was the chief investigating officer.Myers had a history with Lynn authorities. On Oct. 3, 2008 Myers was arrested and charged with possession of class A and class B substances with intent to distribute, near a school, by Lynn police.