Jeremy Scott Hackbarth, DOB: 4-17-84, appeared in Jefferson County District Court today where he was sentenced to 192 years in prison for his role in kidnapping and robbing two people in South Jeffco.
On September 16, 2017 Hackbarth and codefendant, Casey Daniel Cleveland, DOB: 6-7-85, were drinking at a sports bar at S. Wadsworth and W. Chatfield in unincorporated Jefferson County. They met a young man and a young woman and the four socialized throughout the evening. All four left the bar at the same time. Hackbarth and Cleveland asked the man and woman if they would give them a ride. They agreed. Hackbarth and Cleveland climbed into the back seat. As they drove southbound on Wadsworth, Cleveland pulled a knife and put it to the male’s (driver) neck. Hackbarth reached forward and put his arm around the female’s neck and threatened to kill her. He choked her repeatedly. Hackbarth and Cleveland ordered the male to keep driving. The female, in fear for her life, opened the door and jumped from the moving car. The car was traveling 50 mph. Hackbarth and Cleveland ordered the male to turn into a neighborhood and pull over. They threatened to shoot him and told him to get out of the car. Hackbarth and Cleveland then left the area in the female victim’s car.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department arrived and contacted both victims. The female was injured but survived her escape from the moving car. Hackbarth and Cleveland were arrested hours later.
Following six days of trial in August, 2018 a Jefferson County jury found Hackbarth guilty of ten felony counts, including Kidnapping (F2), Aggravated Robbery (F3); Second Degree Assault (F4); and Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft (F3).
Hackbarth had six prior felony convictions. In advance of the sentencing hearing today, he was found to be a habitual criminal. This lengthened the sentencing range of each count for which he was convicted.
Codefendant Cleveland was sentenced on September 20, 2018 to 26 years in prison for his role in the incident.
