RP man pleads guilty to cocaine charges

SAN FRANCISCO — A Rohnert Park man is looking at 15 years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to drug charges.

David Nieves, 43, pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession with intent to distribute over half a kilogram of cocaine, prosecutors said.

Nieves was arrested in May after a high-speed chase through Santa Rosa.

In pleading guilty, Nieves admitted he had tossed a bag of cocaine out the window while leading officers on A 70-mph car chase on Fountaingrove Parkway.

Nieves also pleaded guilty to violating the terms of supervised release that he was serving at the time of the chase in connection with an earlier drug conviction.

As part of his plea, he agreed to a 15-year prison sentence.

Nieves is due to be sentenced Oct. 15.

The May 27 chase began when an officer tried to stop Nieves’ car near Cleveland Avenue and Industrial Drive, but Nieves drove off.

At Fountaingrove Parkway and Parker Hill Road, Nieves reportedly turned his car around and tried to hit the police car.

The officer avoided the collision, and the chase continued west on Fountaingrove to Bicentennial Way, police said.

A bag containing 2.2 pounds of cocaine was thrown from the car before Nieves stopped a short distance later, police said.