GOLDEN, Colo. – A man was sentenced to 192 years in prison for his role in kidnapping and robbing two people in south Jefferson County, a spokesperson for the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Friday.
Jeremy Scott Hackbard, 34, was also sentenced as a habitual criminal, lengthening the sentence for the crime which took place on September 16, 2017.
Hackbarth and a codefendant, 33-year-old Casey Daniel Cleveland, were drinking at a sports bar at S. Wadsworth and W. Chatfield in unincorporated Jefferson County when they met a couple and the four socialized throughout the evening before all four left the venue.
According to Pam Russell, a spokeswoman for the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the two men asked the couple if they could get a ride, and the couple agreed. The men climbed in the backseat and the car started driving southbound on S. Wadsworth Boulevard.
While they were driving, Cleveland pulled a knife and put it to the male driver’s neck. Hackbarth reached forward and put his arm around the female’s neck and threatened to kill her, choking her repeatedly, according to the release.
The men order the man to keep driving. The woman, fearing for her life, opened the door and jumped from the car, which as traveling about 50 mph. Hackbarth and Cleveland ordered the male driver to turn into a neighborhood and pull over. They threatened to shoot him and told him to get out of the car. When he did, the men left the area in the car, according to the release.
The female was injured, but had survived her escape from the moving car. Hackbarth and Cleveland were arrested a few hours later.
Hackbarth was found guilty of 10 felony counts, including kidnapping, aggravated robbery, second-degree assault and aggravated motor vehicle theft. Cleveland appeared in court Aug. 29 and plead guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery. Hackbarth had six prior felony convictions. In advance of the sentencing hearing Friday, he was found to be a habitual criminal. This lengthened the sentencing range of each count for which he was convicted.
Cleveland was sentenced on September 20, 2018 to 26 years in prison for his role in the robbery and kidnapping.