CHICORA — A suspected “doughnut” maker is accused of causing thousands of dollars worth of damage last month to five vehicles at a northern Butler County bar.

State police said Brett L. Whitmire, 35, of Butler drove his pickup truck in a circular maneuver fast enough to kick up rocks that pelted the vehicles in the Beer Garden parking lot in Washington Township.

The total damages, authorities said, were “just over $14,000.” That amount led police to charge Whitmire with a felony count of criminal mischief.

But Whitmire apparently will not be prosecuted if he pays the repair bills of the vehicle owners.

“He said he wants to make good by all the victims,” said prosecutor Russ Karl, a county assistant district attorney, following Whitmire’s arraignment Tuesday.

District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Whitmire by video at his office in Chicora. Whitmire, who is in the State Correctional Institution at Mercer on a parole violation, was told of the case against him.

He is accused of doing a doughnut and burnout in his 2004 Nissan Titan about 8 p.m. Aug. 18 at the Beer Garden on Route 38.

He drove away but a surveillance camera captured the vandalism on video and helped police identify Whitmire and his truck, according to court documents.

The costly joyride allegedly was done on a dare.

“(Whitmire) admitted to doing the doughnut after being challenged that his truck couldn’t complete a doughnut,” a police affidavit said.

While normally a summary or misdemeanor offense, criminal mischief is upgraded to a third-degree felony if the damage committed to property is valued at more than $5,000.

Defendants charged with a third-degree felony face up to seven years in state prison.

However, at Tuesday’s proceedings Karl announced a proposed deal he worked out with Whitmire’s attorney, James Paulick.

Should Whitmire pay the full amount of restitution, the felony charge would be withdrawn, the prosecutor said. Instead, Whitmire would only face a summary charge, such as careless driving or reckless driving, which is punishable by a fine.

Trooper David Titley, who filed the case, is to provide authorities with an exact damage amount.

Karl said arrangements would be made to bring Whitmire from the state institution to Stoughton’s office next week to make the restitution payment to the court.

Paulick was unavailable for comment immediately after Tuesday’s arraignment.