BANNING – A convicted felon who fled from Hemet police in a stolen vehicle and tried to ram a patrol car at the end of the pursuit was sentenced today to nearly seven years in state prison.
Cody James Barnett, 30, of Hemet pleaded guilty last month to assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and felony evading, as well as a
sentence-enhancing allegation of committing a felony within five years of parole.
In exchange for his admissions, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office dropped a charge of receiving stolen property. Superior Court Judge
Mark Johnson certified the terms of the plea agreement and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.
Barnett will not be eligible for parole until 2023.
According to Hemet police, officers assigned to the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force tried to stop the defendant near Cawston Street and Esplanade Avenue last April 6 after noticing that he was driving a car — later confirmed stolen out of Murrieta — without a license plate.
Officers recognized Barnett from previous encounters and knew he was on active probation, police said.
The defendant punched the car’s accelerator, racing to 90 mph over a 10-mile stretch on city streets.
A sheriff’s helicopter crew was requested to assist and tracked the fleeing vehicle to the 300 block of Kimball Avenue, where Hemet police officers
closed in, trapping the defendant. According to a police statement, he “attempted to ram a police vehicle,” but the officer steered clear in time.
The stolen vehicle was disabled moments later, and Barnett surrendered without further incident. No one was injured.
Court records show that Barnett has prior convictions for auto theft, receiving stolen property, felony evading and possession of illegal drugs.
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