A Lawrence man who led police on a 200-mile car chase in Kansas and Missouri was placed on probation for one year Friday by a Douglas County District Court judge.

If Brandon W. Callahan, 24, stays out of trouble during the probation period, he will avoid serving a nine-month prison sentence. Judge Robert Fairchild also ordered Callahan to pay for damages in the incident. In March, Callahan pleaded no contest to a felony charge of fleeing and eluding law enforcement officers. Prosecutors agreed to drop two other charges.

On Nov. 14, 2006, Callahan hijacked a van at a convenience store in the 1700 block of Massachusetts Street. He drove out of town and led the Kansas Highway Patrol on a chase that ended when Missouri officers took him into custody near Clinton. In December he was placed on probation on Missouri charges.