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Arizona man sentenced for stealing semi from sleeping driver at truck stop

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A man accused of waking a sleeping truck driver to steal his vehicle has been sentenced to nearly 9 years in prison.

On November 30, 45 year old Arizona resident Ricardo Andrade was sentenced to 8.75 years in prison, according to Nogales International.

Andrade was charged following an incident that occurred last summer at a truck stop located in Nogales.

Prosecutors say that Andrade woke a sleeping trucker by shaking his truck and screaming threats. During the altercation that ensued, Andrade was able to enter the truck and steal the big rig while the truck driver fled the vehicle wearing only his underwear.

The truck driver tracked down a security guard, who called the police.

With help from police, the truck was tracked to a Pilot location in Rio Rico.

An off-duty police officer became involved in a physical altercation with Andrade at the truck stop. Andrade was then tased and arrested.

Andrade later said that he had taken drugs and had been hallucinating when the incident occurred.

The judge cited several factors in handing down the nearly nine year sentence, including Andrade’s three previous felony convictions, two probation revocations, and the danger he posed to others by driving a semi truck while hallucinating.

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