Michael Kightlinger
TAFT — A Taft man wanted for several offenses in Kern County, turned himself in last week after dodging police for more than two years.
Michael Kightlinger, 40, was booked onto the Kern County Jail on January 2, for charges of inflicting corporal injury on spouse/cohabitant, prevent/dissuade witness from reporting a crime, obstructing or resisting a peace officer, willful cruelty to a child, reckless evading of a peace officer and drive while license suspended/revoked.
His bail has been set at $240,000.
According to the Kern County Superior Court web site, Kightlinger was wanted on a warrant for spousal abuse, child endangerment and threatening a witness or victim.
In March of 2014, police nearly caught Kightlinger during a routine traffic stop in Ford City, but he evaded capture after Kern County Sheriff’s deputies said he led them on a high speed chase to a home just south of Highway 58 in California Valley.
When the pursuit ended, deputies arrested his female passenger, but were unable to apprehend Kightlinger, who has a lengthy record of run-ins with law enforcement.
