GEORGETOWN, Colo. — A 30-year-old man was sentenced Monday to the maximum eight-year prison term for stealing a shuttle bus and leading police on a mountain highway chase.

Why it matters: The incident escalated from a high-speed pursuit into a life-threatening encounter for first responders on one of Colorado’s busiest transit corridors.

• The Sentence: Clear Creek County Judge Jane Catherine Cheroutes handed down an eight-year sentence to Jared Romelo Brooks, the maximum allowed under his plea agreement, the Denver Post reported.
• The Charges: Brooks pleaded guilty to second-degree motor vehicle theft; charges of attempted first-degree murder and vehicular eluding were dropped as part of the deal.
• The Credit: Records show Brooks received 102 days of credit for time served and will face three years of parole upon release.

The backdrop: The October joyride began after Brooks abandoned a separate stolen Chevrolet Equinox that had been clocked at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

• Vehicle Swap: After deputies called off an initial chase for safety, Brooks and an unidentified woman stole a shuttle bus from a Georgetown retail parking lot.
• Reckless Path: CCTV footage captured the pair discussing the theft before Brooks drove the bus through closed construction zones and onto highway shoulders.
• Targeting Officers: Affidavits reveal Brooks “suddenly accelerated” toward police and CDOT staff on the side of I-70, striking a patrol car and a tow truck while officers jumped to safety.

Between the lines: Evidence from the bus’s internal cameras provided investigators with a direct look at the driver’s intent during the crimes.

• Recorded Intent: Cameras captured Brooks identifying “pigs” (police) ahead before abruptly crossing multiple lanes to drive toward them.
• The Recovery: The shuttle bus was eventually found abandoned in Denver, located within walking distance of Brooks’ residence.

The state of play: This case follows a pattern of dangerous large-vehicle thefts in Colorado that have previously resulted in significantly harsher penalties due to loss of life.

• The 2020 Tragedy: In November 2020, 20-year-old Daihauonzadre Brooks-Jones stole a 16-passenger bus in Aurora and caused a horrific head-on crash on Highway 83.
• Fatal Outcome: That pursuit killed two people—Kizzy Aquirre and Sergio Sanchez—as their family traveled to a funeral.
• The Sentencing: Brooks-Jones was sentenced to 32 years in prison—two consecutive 16-year terms—after telling the victims’ families to “deal with it” during his 2022 court hearing.

What’s next: Brooks will be transferred to the Colorado Department of Corrections to begin his sentence.