YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown man who had been a fugitive for two years and then rammed a task force SUV last November during his arrest was given a five-year prison sentence Thursday for a series of felony convictions.

Richard Williams, 27, of 450 Almyra St., who pleaded guilty Sept. 11 to a host of charges, was given the term by Mahoning County Common Pleas Judge Anthony Donofrio, who ignored a plea arrangement between prosecutors and his attorneys calling for a three-year term.

“This court finds that your reckless, life-threatening behavior and use of firearms as a felon warrants a longer sentence,” Donofrio told Williams.

Williams was arrested Nov. 1, 2018, after U.S. Marshals, Austintown police and the Violent Crimes Task Force surrounded the Austintown hotel where he was staying. Reports said Williams drove a silver car into one of the SUVs driven by a task force officer as he tried to escape.

At the time, Williams was wanted on close to a dozen warrants from various law enforcement agencies across the region.

During his arrest, reports state, a handgun and heroin were found in Williams’ car.

Before sentencing, Williams apologized to his family and to the federal marshals for his behavior. He told his brother who was in the courtroom that “this isn’t the road that you should go.”

Donofrio also ordered Williams to pay $250 restitution that accounts for the insurance deductible for the damage to the task force vehicle. His driver’s license was suspended for three years.

Williams had pleaded guilty to felonious assault, possessing a weapon while a felon, receiving stolen property and possession of a fentanyl-related compound.

In a 2017 case, he received a one-year prison term, to be served concurrently, on charges of tampering with records and identity fraud. He also was sentenced to three years, also to be served concurrently, on two-count felonious assault conviction for an incident that occurred in 2016.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com