Driver Gets Prison Term For ‘Road Rage’ Spree

A Spokane Valley man will spend more than two years in prison for his role in a “road rage” incident last summer.

Anthony W. Sotin, 28, was given the high end of the sentencing range Thursday for second-degree malicious mischief and possession of stolen property.

Sotin entered an Alford plea - insisting he was innocent but conceding a jury could have found him guilty.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Sotin on Aug. 6 after chasing him for several miles along East Wellesley near Otis Orchards.

During an hourlong afternoon spree, Sotin drove his red Mustang at high speeds, barely avoiding several collisions.

Police say he threw a pop can at a passing car, then stopped when the other driver followed him.

Sotin told officers he jumped out and punched the other driver, Derek Colosimo, in the face.

Before being sentenced, Sotin delivered a 20-minute explanation “of my side of the story.”

He said his actions were the result of family stress and having “a very rough day.”

He acknowledged punching Colosimo in the face, but said “I was scared because he took out a small handgun and raised it to (the car) window,” Sotin said Thursday.

Sotin then got in his car and within minutes had a second violent run-in with another driver.

After nearly hitting a four-wheel drive Toyota driven by Scott Maclay, Sotin stopped his car and ran toward Maclay’s vehicle.

As Maclay sat in his car, Sotin ran toward the Toyota screaming, “What the hell are you doing, man, trying to kill me?” Sotin told the court.

Maclay pulled out a .45-caliber handgun and fired two shots over Sotin’s head, police said.

Sotin again drove off, stopped, grabbed a crowbar from his trunk and drove back toward Maclay.

He threw the crowbar and caused more than $500 damage to Maclay’s vehicle, according to police reports.

Sotin was arrested 20 minutes later at a Post Falls gas station. Police searching his car found several stolen items, including a fax machine.

Sotin told police - and repeated before being sentenced - that the items were property he acquired working as a confidential drug informant.

“I was trying to establish some trust with people they were looking to bust. That’s how I got those items,” Sotin said Thursday.

A police spokesman denied having any record of Sotin working as an undercover informant.

Superior Court Judge James Murphy said Sotin deserved the 29-month maximum sentence because he has nine previous felony convictions.

“I hope this is where you make things change,” Murphy said. “You owe something to your two children and to those here (in your family) who are standing by you.”

After being sentenced, Sotin turned to Maclay and said, “I do want to apologize for what happened.”

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