By Matt Kawahara
mkawahara@sacbee.com
A Sacramento man who carjacked and kidnapped a woman near Roseville in 2009 has been sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison, according to a Placer County District Attorney release.
Rick Anthony Cooley (left), 32, a "three-strikes" law offender, pleaded no contest on Feb. 17 to a felony charge of kidnapping during a carjacking, the release states. Cooley also admitted to allegations that he had committed three serious or violent felonies for which he served prison sentences, the release states.
The carjacking and kidnapping occurred Nov. 12, 2009, according to the release, which gives this description of the crime:
A woman driving to work was hit from behind by a vehicle on Vineyard Road near Roseville. When she got out of her car to exchange information with the other driver, the male driver punched her in the face, forced her back into the car and then got into her car and drove away.
The male driver, later identified as Cooley, drove around for four hours with the victim before returning to an area near the original crime scene, where he had left his own car running. Cooley released the victim and drove away in her car.
The victim contacted a local resident, who reported the crime to the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Investigators tracked the crime to Cooley because the car he had abandoned was registered in his mother's name.
Cooley was arrested without incident later that day.
Cooley was sentenced Thursday by Placer County Superior Court Judge Colleen Nichols, according to the release. A restitution hearing is scheduled for April 14.
Call The Bee's Matt Kawahara, (916) 321-1015.
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