A Portland man who stole a $29,000 Ford Mustang from a car dealership and fled from police earlier this year has been sentenced to two years in prison, officials announced.
A Fast Verdict
Jayairus Joshua Johnson, 37, was convicted in Clackamas County Circuit Court on multiple charges, including possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful use of a vehicle, attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, and recklessly endangering another person. The jury took only about 15 minutes to reach its verdict, according to prosecutors, a remarkably fast turnaround that speaks to how clear-cut the evidence against him was.
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A Fake Pre-Approval and a Sudden Getaway
The case traces back to January 6, 2025, when Johnson visited Diplomat Motors and expressed interest in several high-end cars. According to court records, he told staff he was pre-approved for a $100,000 loan, but declined a required credit check that would have exposed whether that was true. When the sales manager escorted him out, Johnson appeared to leave, until moments later, the sound of a revving engine and screeching tires signaled otherwise.
A dark blue 2020 Ford Mustang, valued at $29,200, had vanished from the lot. The dealership quickly activated the vehicle’s tracking system, which led police straight to its location.
A Dangerous Pursuit Cut Short for Safety
A West Linn officer soon spotted the stolen Mustang along Oregon Route 43 and attempted a traffic stop, but Johnson refused to pull over. He reportedly reached high speeds, crossed into oncoming traffic, and passed vehicles dangerously before the officer made the call to end the pursuit for public safety reasons rather than continue the chase.
Johnson later abandoned the car at a West Linn apartment complex and tried to flee on foot. Officers found him walking nearby, still wearing the same clothing seen at the dealership and carrying the Mustang’s key fob in his pocket, evidence that made the case against him fairly straightforward.
The Sentence
Judge Katherine Weber sentenced Johnson to 24 months in state prison. The vehicle itself was recovered with only minimal damage, according to police, a relatively fortunate outcome for the dealership given how the pursuit played out.