A 38-year-old Tooele man was sentenced in 3rd District Court Tuesday to one year in the Tooele County Jail for attempting to run over a Tooele City Police officer last year.

Judge Mark Kouris said he wished he could sentence Jose Roberto Fuentes to more than he was able, given the grievous crime committed.

"The fact that this officer is still alive is nothing short of a miracle," Kouris said.

On July 21, 2007, officers responded to a Tooele residence on a domestic dispute call. As they arrived, an intoxicated Fuentes was already fleeing the scene in a 2007 Toyota Tundra. When officers pulled up to the home, however, Fuentes made a U-turn and attempted to ram the officers head-on with his truck before they could exit their vehicle.

Fuentes' blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit at the time of his arrest.

Fuentes pled guilty to evading police, a third-degree felony, as well as assault on a police officer and driving under the influence, both class A misdemeanors, on Dec. 18, 2007.

The victim, Officer Ann Pingrey, appeared in court Tuesday to give her account of what happened, and suggested that the defendant be given mandatory prison time, saying Fuentes had knowingly turned his steering wheel to aim his truck at the driver's side of her squad car at an estimated speed of 45 to 50 miles per hour.

Fuentes' prison time was suspended, however, and he will serve out his jail time locally. Following his release, he will be on probation for 36 months.

Jamie Belnap: jamieb@tooeletranscript.com