The man accused of driving a motorcycle 188 mph to elude police has been convicted.

In a two-day trial, a Pottawattamie County jury returned a guilty verdict on the charge of eluding a peace officer, after about an hour of deliberation.

In August 2009, James Foldenauer, 39, was clocked going 188 mph in a 70 mph zone on Interstate 29 near Missouri Valley. The chase lasted 33 miles and eventually ended at an Omaha home near 59th and Fay Boulevard.

Iowa State trooper Brian Michaelson recorded part of the pursuit with the cruiser camera. "It's possibly a national [speed] record on a public roadway."

Investigators said the motorcyclist was weaving in and out of traffic in construction zones and would go down the center line and the shoulder to pass vehicles.

In court, Foldenauer's defense focused on his alibi. His team argued that it was someone else driving those high speeds.

Because the cruisers couldn't keep up with the Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle, a state patrol airplane followed it to an Omaha garage.

Investigators figure Foldenauer didn't know there was an eye in the sky following him.

"The credit goes to the Iowa State troopers and the Omaha police officers who were able to keep track of, and ultimately, track down the suspect responsible for such a dangerous high-speed chase,"
said Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Tom Nelson.

Nelson adds that he plans to push for the maximum a misdemeanor conviction allows -- two years in jail because of the aggressive nature of the crime.

Foldenauer will be sentenced on March 8.