A Modesto man who went on a crime spree that traversed multiple cities and ended with a shootout with law enforcement in a Newman orchard, has been convicted of multiple offenses, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Jason Benson Dingler, 45, of Modesto was convicted of five counts of attempted premeditated murder of a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm, carjacking, robbery, and other related charges. Dingler also admitted he had at least two serious felony convictions that qualify him as a 3-Striker under California’s 3-Strikes Law. Dingler is facing 700 years to life in prison and will be sentenced on May 1.

Dingler’s conviction relates to a crime spree that occurred on Sept. 22, 2023. Much of the spree was captured on video from footage from doorbell, surveillance, and body cameras and images from the helicopter flying overhead.

The incident began when Dingler broke into a home in the 3500 block of W. Keyes Road in Keyes around 1 a.m. on Sept. 22. The doorbell footage from that incident shows a shirtless Dingler kick the door in and enter the home. At the residence he stole a handgun, ammunition and a change of clothes.

Dingler allegedly used the weapon to carjack a truck at 5:26 p.m. in the 5100 block of Muncy Road. In that footage, the homeowner comes out of the house to find Dingler around the corner of the porch pointing the gun at him. Dingler is donned in all black and tells the man that he is “active military first battalion second corporal United States military” and to be “a good civilian” and get him the keys to a pickup truck parked at the residence.

The homeowner says the keys are in a shop behind the house and he goes inside the home to put on shoes, with Dingler following behind him with the gun pointed at the homeowner. Dinger tells the man that if he calls the cops he is “dead.”

Additional footage shows Dingler follow the man out to the shop, continually scoping out the scene with the handgun pointed, as if he was playing a video game.

The investigation showed Dingler had no prior military service.

Six minutes after the carjacking, an employee of the One Stop Market in Grayson reported an armed man stole alcohol and fled. His description matched that of the carjacking suspect. The store footage shows Dingler stroll to the beer cooler, pull out two cases and then walk out of the store with the gun tucked into a holster on his right hip.

A California Highway Patrol officer spotted Dingler driving the stolen truck moving southbound on Highway 33 at 5:43 p.m. Multiple deputies joined in the pursuit to assist in an attempt to stop the driver, however, Dingler led them on a high-speed pursuit for 11 miles. Helping to track the suspect overhead was Air101, the Sheriff’s Office helicopter, as Dingler continued fleeing on Highway 33 at speeds up to 85 mph.

At 5:59 p.m., Dingler sideswiped another car as he passed it, causing the stolen pickup to leave the roadway and crash at the edge of an orchard near Lundy Road outside Newman. Footage from Air101 shows the crash and Dingler running through the orchard. He turns and fires several shots at law enforcement.

The helicopter crew provided updates to deputies on Dingler’s movements through the orchard. At one point he was seen dropping onto his belly to fire again at deputies, missing them but striking a patrol car. For the next several minutes, he was observed holding the gun and drawing closer to the deputies.

As Dingler continued advancing, at 6:26 p.m. two deputies fired at him, striking him once. The bullet dropped Dingler and deputies continued issuing multiple commands for his surrender, but he remained uncooperative with the gun within his reach.

Deputies advanced on Dingler with armored vehicles and took him into custody 21 minutes later. They immediately began rendering medical aid until he could be transported to a hospital by an ambulance crew. 

No deputies were injured during the incident. The handgun was recovered.

No plea deals were offered to Dingler pursuant to District Attorney Jeff Laugero’s policy not to negotiate with career criminals charged with violent crimes.

Deputy District Attorney Larissa Jones prosecuted this case on behalf of the People.