An Everett man who led police on a wild chase that clogged traffic throughout central Snohomish County and terrified people at two shopping areas was sentenced Monday to nearly 17 years in prison.

Stewart Allan Compher, 31, pleaded guilty earlier to five felonies — two counts of first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, attempted robbery and attempting to elude police vehicles.

On Monday, Compher’s attorney, Gabriel Rothstein, told a judge that Compher and another man sped away from police in an attempt to avoid a ticket for driving with a suspended driver’s license.

During the July 20 crime spree, Compher, 31, ran with a loaded pistol through the two shopping areas and caused numerous traffic accidents while fleeing from police.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Ronald Castleberry said he doesn’t know what was going through Compher’s mind.

“I do know, in terms of a number of completely innocent people, their lives have been permanently and substantially altered,” Castleberry said.

Joan Cavagnaro, chief deputy prosecutor, recommended a sentence of more than 15 years.

Castleberry said that wasn’t quite enough.

In addition, Compher is required to pay restitution for numerous damaged cars, a bill that could climb into the tens of thousands of dollars.

His co-defendant, Eric Merlan Johnson II, 24, of Seattle, pleaded guilty to fewer crimes. He was sentenced earlier to a four-year prison term. He got less prison time partly because Johnson had no previous criminal record. Compher has previous convictions of burglary, theft and malicious mischief, Cavagnaro said.

Rothstein, a public defender, told the judge that “words can not express his regret” for what happened, and he wishes he could live the day over.

“Mr. Compher has a sincere desire to get his life back on track when he gets out of prison,” Rothstein said.

Prosecutors say it all started with someone breaking into the car of an off-duty Everett police officer whose vehicle had been parked at the Centennial Trail near Arlington.

When they were spotted, the thieves fled in their own truck. A Lake Stevens officer spotted the truck, which took off at high speeds.

When the truck stalled on the U.S. 2 trestle, the occupants stole a car at gunpoint. Police took up the chase again, sometimes backing off due to the high speeds and danger to other vehicles. A police helicopter was used to follow the stolen car.

The stolen car wound up at Everett Mall, where gun-wielding Compher and Johnson ran. Johnson was arrested. Compher ran through the mall and stole a pickup truck.

The chase continued and wound up at a Fred Meyer store on 132nd Street SE near Mill Creek. Compher ran through the store and out the back, where police found it safe to fire at him.

Compher refused to stop and was wounded by police gunshots. He was treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Compher had a loaded semi-automatic pistol with one round in the chamber when he was wounded. Police later determined the gun was stolen, prosecutors said.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.