OREGON – A Rockford man waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday when he appeared in court on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle following a pursuit through the city on Nov. 3.

Timothy P. Valdivia, 32, said Ogle County Judge Anthony Peska said he was representing himself and wanted to waive his right to the hearing, where a judge hears evidence from prosecutors and decides whether there is enough probable cause to proceed with charges.

“Are you representing yourself,” Peska asked.

“Yes sir,” Valdivia replied as he appeared in court wearing handcuffs, shackles and an orange jumpsuit issued to the Ogle County Jail.

Valdivia is accused of possessing a 2018 Toyota truck owned by a Lacrosse, Wisconsin man. He was arrested in the truck on Nov. 4 after an Oregon police officer was dispatched to 313 S. Second St. for a violation of a protection order.

According to court documents, Valdivia was found inside the truck at 5:07 p.m. when it was parked in front of the apartment building at that address.

Oregon Patrol Officer Terry Lester said he found Valdivia sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck with the engine running. Lester said that when he called the truck’s owner, the man advised that he wanted to “pursue charges and did not consent to anyone having control of or driving his vehicle.”

In addition to the charge of aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle, Valdivia is also charged with violating a protective order. In that indictment, he is accused of violating the protective order while within 300 feet of the address. The protective order was issued on October 11 by a woman who lives in the building.

Lester told police she saw Valdivia sitting in the truck outside her residence. Lester said Valdivia told him he “wanted to see his daughter before he went to jail.”

Police say Valdivia was the driver of the vehicle they chased through the city on Nov. 3 after it was seen traveling 66 mph in a 40 mph zone, eastbound on East Washington Street, which is also Illinois 64.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle in the 1200 block of South Blackhawk Road, just east of the city limits, the driver failed to stop and continued, Oregon Police Chief Matt Kalnins said in a Nov. 4 news release.

“The vehicle continued west back through Oregon, where deputies from the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department joined efforts to stop it,” Kalnins said in the release. “The vehicle continued to elude law enforcement and eventually traveled down S. 4th St. (Illinois 2) before the driver abandoned the vehicle near Collins St. near the railroad tracks.”

Kalnins said Oregon police and Ogle County deputies conducted an extensive search of the area but were unable to locate the driver of the vehicle at the time.

Valdivia is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. on November 21 on the following traffic charges: driving on a suspended license; careless driving; speeding, 26-34 mph over the speed limit; failure to stop at an intersection; driving an uninsured motor vehicle; ignore a traffic control device; and faulty turn signals,

Valdivia first appeared in court on Nov. 6 for a detention hearing. Peska denied his release and remanded him to the Ogle County Jail.

On Wednesday, Valdivia asked if he could be sentenced that day. Peska said he would have to contact the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office to see if an agreement could be reached.

Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Leisten told Peska that his office would “reach out” to Valdivia.

Leisten asked Peska to continue to deny Valdivia’s release from prison.

Valdivia said he was not homeless and had a place to stay in Oregon if he were to be released, adding that he would like to be able to put his motorcycle in for the winter.

Peska denied Valdivia’s release and sentenced him to prison.