Bremont changes plea on chase, ID theft charges

A former Redmond principal scheduled to go to trial Thursday on charges including eluding police instead appeared in court to enter an Alford plea, acknowledging he’d likely be found guilty if it went to trial.

That means Michael Bremont is not admitting to guilt, but is admitting the evidence against him would likely lead to conviction.

Back in September, Bremont was arrested after he allegedly tried to flee on his motorcycle when an officer tried to pull him over. The charges came just a few months after Bremont was released from prison.

Bremont is the former executive director of the Redmond Proficiency Academy who was found guilty in 2012 of sexually abusing two minors, one of which was a student of his.

Bremont entered the Alford plea to identity fraud, while a reckless driving charge against him was dropped. He is due back in court for sentencing on Dec. 16 at 10 a.m.

Also in another Deschutes County courtroom Thursday was Richard Gustafson, the Bend gymnastics coach found guilty of sexually multiple young girls last year.

Gustafson will learn his fate next week when he is sentenced at 10:30 a.m. next Tuesday. He faces up to nearly 70 years behind bars.

Two weeks ago, a judge found Gustafson guilty on all but two charges of child sex abuse, child pornography charges, and possession of cocaine. His sentencing was delayed after an altercation in jail that required medical treatment.