Denver Carjacker Sentenced to 72 Years

DENVER, CO -- A man convicted for a 2016 carjacking in North Capitol Hill was sentenced Monday to 76 years in prison, the Denver District Attorney's office said.

Edward Lee Hicks, 48, was found guilty after a jury trial last December of one count of aggravated robbery and one count of vehicular eluding. Because he was proved to be a "habitual offender," he was sentenced to 64 years in prison for aggravated robbery, and to 12 years for the vehicular eluding conviction. The judge ordered the sentences to run consecutively, for a total of 76 years in prison, the DA's office said.

Just after midnight, on June 19, 2016, at 16th Avenue and Pearl Street, a man and woman were inside a car exciting a parking lot, when Hicks opened the passenger door and poked the female passenger in the ribs with an unknown object, according to an arrest affidavit.

"I have a '45 on your girl," Hicks told the male driver. "Put your keys and wallet on the dashboard and get out."

The driver complied, and both passengers escaped from the vehicle, in which Hicks drove off at a high rate of speed. A police car chase ensued until Hicks crashed the car at North Krameria Street and East Colfax Avenue, the arrest affidavit said. Hicks was identified by the victims and taken into custody, the police report said.

Image via Denver County District Attorney