OAKLAND, Md. (AP) - The mayor of Friendsville was convicted Wednesday of leading state police on a chase in northern Garrett County.

Spencer R. Schlosnagle, 40, was found guilty after a bench trial of speeding and fleeing and eluding. Garrett County District Judge Edward Malloy acquitted him of second-degree assault.

Malloy ordered Schlosnagle to pay the $50 speeding ticket and fined him $100 for fleeing and eluding. The judge also ordered probation before judgment on the fleeing and eluding count, which means the conviction could be expunged after one year.

Police said they clocked Schlosnagle driving up to 83 mph on Interstate 68 and Md. 495 on the afternoon of March 18. Trooper Steven LeMay alleged Schlosnagle forced other vehicles to brake abruptly to avoid collisions and rammed an unmarked police cruiser.

Schlosnagle contended he was distraught because his mother, Alta Schlosnagle, was dying. She passed away three days later.

Schlosnagle is serving his 10th term as mayor of the town of 529. He has been re-elected repeatedly since first winning the post in 1986 despite convictions for indecent exposure in 1992, 1993 and 1994.