This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A West Valley City man who was involved in a police shootout last July was sentenced to prison for up to life on Friday.

Ramon Silvestre Franco, 32, pleaded guilty in November to first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder. Three other felonies — charges of aggravated kidnapping, theft by receiving stolen property and failure to stop for police — were dismissed as part of a plea deal.

On Friday, 3rd District Judge Katie Bernards-Goodman sentenced Franco to spend at least five years and up to life in prison for the crime.

Franco was accused of ordering his then-19-year-old girlfriend to get into his car on July 17. She said no, according to her statement to police, but Franco allegedly showed her a gun and again told her to get into the car. The woman complied.

According to a probable cause statement filed in court, police were looking for Franco that night, suspecting that he had committed an armed robbery in West Valley City.

West Valley police officers located the man, who was driving a stolen Toyota Camry with the girlfriend inside, and when they tried to pull him over in Glendale, the man allegedly drove off.

A 15-20 minute chase ensued through Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Kearns and Taylorsville. During the chase, the suspect fired numerous rounds at officers, and the gunfire intensified after UPD successfully spiked the tires of the suspect's vehicle near 4500 South and Redwood Road, according to police. Police returned fire, according to court records.

Both Franco and his girlfriend were both injured by gunfire. No officers were hit in the shootout, though a police cruiser and an apartment building were damaged by gunfire.

Twitter: @jm_miller