Oroville man to stand trial for chase

An Oroville man was ordered to stand trial on Friday in Yuba County for leading authorities on a high-speed chase in a stolen Yuba County utility truck in October.

Joseph Kenneth Simpson, 35, has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of robbery, vehicle theft, fleeing from peace officers, false impersonation and misdemeanor counts of false identification, escaping arrest and evading police, according to Yuba County Superior Court records.

If convicted on all charges, Simpson faces more than a decade in state prison, Deputy Yuba County District Attorney Mike Byrne said.

Simpson was arrested Oct. 19 after leading police on an 85-mph chase going the wrong way on Highway 70 in Yuba County, deputies testified.

Deputies said Simpson ran away from a a home in the 4300 block of College Way in Linda and stole a truck from the Olivehurst Public Utilities District.

Judge Dennis J. Buckley dismissed a felony count of obstructing a peace officer, saying there was not enough evidence to show Simpson knocked down a sheriff's deputy who tried to arrest him.

Defense attorney Christopher Carlos argued the deputy could have simply lost his balance.

Simpson remains in custody at the Yuba County Jail on $50,000 bail.

He is scheduled to appear on April 2 for arraignment in Yuba County Superior Court.

Simpson was arrested last year after leading police on another high-speed chase through Yuba and Sutter counties. The May 6, 2012, chase ended when Simpson crashed his vehicle into several fences in Yuba City, authorities said.

He is scheduled to appear in that case on May 13 in Sutter County Superior Court.

Simpson's lengthy criminal history includes numerous convictions in Yuba, Sutter and Butte counties on a variety of charges, ranging from assault with a deadly weapon and theft to obstructing police and false impersonation, according to court records.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.