DEFENDANT GETS `3RD STRIKE' FOR LANCASTER CARJACKING.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer A ``three strikes, you're out'' defendant with two prior burglary convictions has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for carjacking The criminal taking of a motor vehicle from its driver by force, violence, or intimidation. The u.s. justice department categorizes the crime of carjacking as a "completed or attempted Robbery of a motor vehicle by a stranger and leading authorities on a high-speed chase which ended in a crash. Ronald Buck, 33, was apprehended in the May 5 incident with the help of a Caltrans worker who tackled the fleeing Buck after the stolen car he was driving collided with a truck. Buck was sentenced Wednesday after he entered a no contest plea to one count of carjacking. Buck's co-defendant, Melisa Piatt, 29, of Palmdale, pleaded no contest to the same count and was sentenced to five years in prison. The Caltrans worker, Harold Lewis, 61, of Lancaster, was recognized in June for his heroism when the District Attorney's Office awarded him a Courageous Citizen Award, one of nine people from the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. to be so honored. Prosecutors said the pair attempted to carjack car·jack or car-jack tr.v. car·jacked, car·jack·ing, car·jacks To commit forcible theft of (a vehicle) from its users. [car + (hi)jack. a 1970 Opal Kadett at a mini-mart and gas station near Avenue K and the Antelope Valley Freeway The Antelope Valley Freeway is a freeway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in southern California. It is signed as California State Highway 14 along its length. It connects Greater Los Angeles to the rapidly developing Antelope Valley. , but the car broke down as soon it left the parking lot. When the owner of the Opal confronted Buck, Buck pulled a gun and threatened him. The weapon, as it turned out, was a pellet gun a gun that fires small pellets, less than 3 mm diameter, usually made of metal. See also: Pellet . The pair then jumped into a second car, a 1996 Ford Mustang For other Ford Mustang models and concepts, see . The Ford Mustang is an automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company, originally based on the Ford Falcon compact.[1] , at the mini-mart, taking it from the owner at gunpoint. ``That one managed to start,'' Deputy District Attorney Carlos Chung said. ``They threatened the owner with a gun. He was standing near the car.'' The pair drove the Mustang onto the freeway and headed south, leading sheriff's deputies on a 90 mph chase, officials said. The stolen car exited the freeway on Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling near Acton, ran through a stop sign and collided with a truck at Santiago Road, officials said. Lewis, an equipment operator who supervises community service work crews, was having lunch with crew members when they heard a car crash. Running to the location to see if he could offer help, Lewis was startled star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. to see sheriff's squad cars blocking off the street. A woman ran out of one car and was arrested by deputies, but the male driver fled with his hand under his jacket as though he had a weapon. The man ran past Lewis, who tackled him. The suspect threatened to stab Lewis, but the knife the man was reaching for went flying and landed on the ground 10 feet away when Lewis tackled him. |
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