VALPARAISO | Dale Sterling Jr., who was released from prison early after a chase and standoff with police that ended with him being shot in 2003, will not be going back to jail after violating his probation.

The 41-year-old struck a deal with prosecutors to be placed back on probation with a 180-day jail term hanging over his head should he be found guilty of another violation.

Sterling admitted Monday morning to violating his probation by being arrested on a drunken driving charge Sept. 18 in Michigan City and for failing to pay $551 in probation fees.

His attorney, Larry Rogers, said Sterling paid off his probation debt Monday.

Sterling could have been sent back to prison for all or some of the 14-year balance of his sentence.

Sterling had threatened to kill himself and fired a gun at his parents' Liberty Township home May 5, 2003, before leading police on a chase. The chase ended along Ind. 149 south of County Road 1050 North when Sterling climbed on top of his van with a gun and was shot by Portage police Sgt. Michael Vaughan.

Porter Superior Judge Roger Bradford sentenced Sterling to 10 years in prison with another eight years of formal probation.

Yet Bradford agreed to release Sterling after he served just two years, saying Sterling had not been cited for any offenses while in prison, was assigned to an honors dormitory, completed every class available to him, was off all medications, has been accepted at Indiana State University and is sole parent of a 16-year-old daughter.

Sterling had not been ordered by the court to take part in any substance abuse treatment, the Porter County Adult Probation Office said.