CLEARFIELD – An Osceola Mills man charged with various crimes including running from police pleaded guilty Monday during colloquy court.
Dustin Richard Bush, 38, was sentenced by Judge Paul E. Cherry to serve two months to two years less one day in the county jail for felony flight to avoid apprehension in two cases with the sentences to be served consecutive to each other along with three years concurrent probation.
He also received additional consecutive sentences of two months to two years less one day for forgery and theft by unlawful taking.
Bush received concurrent sentences for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in a fourth case; driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and a traffic summary in a fifth case, and criminal trespass in the last case.
His crime spree started on March 18, 2023 when he took a vehicle, and then on March 20, he was stopped while driving under the influence.
The theft and forgery case happened in April of 2023. A criminal complaint details how he stole checks from a victim, signed his name and cashed them for a total of $450. He also removed a chain saw from the victim’s Decatur Township home.
The victim stated that Bush, who was already wanted by police and was seen on video footage in the home, had mentioned that “he would overdose and die before going back to jail.”
On Aug. 26, police stopped a vehicle with Bush inside near Bigler, but as it stopped, Bush got out, jumped over the guiderails and ran, according to that affidavit.
The troopers tried to apprehend him, but Bush, who fled through a creek and private properties, was able to get away.
The driver of that vehicle said she was giving Bush a ride to Philipsburg.
The criminal trespass charge stems from an incident on Sept. 4 in Decatur Township when Bush entered a residence, stole money from a coin jar, drank two sodas and ate a bag of pizza rolls while he stayed there over six hours.
According to the affidavit in the other flight case, on Sept. 20 police received information that Bush was in the Houtzdale area.
After police stopped at a residence where they thought he could be hiding, Bush ran out of a door from the garage and ignored orders for him to stop. Bush ran approximately 15 yards before being tackled by an officer.
Once they were on the ground, Bush continued to fight and another trooper had to assist before he could be handcuffed.
He was also charged with resisting arrest in that case.
