by Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County
A 29-year old Laurel man convicted of carjacking an Uber driver at a motel parking lot, earlier this year, has been sentenced to five years in prison. Preston Harrison, of the 300 block of Laurel Avenue, pleaded guilty on July 12 and was sentenced by Howard County Circuit Court Judge William V. Tucker this morning.
In the early morning hours of January 27, 2018, the Uber driver picked up a fare and drove him to the Valencia Motel, located in the 10000 block of Washington Boulevard in Laurel, where he waited for his fare to return to the vehicle to continue the trip. A man wearing a black hooded jacket, subsequently identified as Preston Harrison, jumped into the passenger seat and threatened the driver who was pushed out of his moving vehicle
Assistant State’s Attorney Tricia Cecil told the court that Harrison took control of the car and drove southbound on Washington Boulevard, striking multiple vehicles in Prince George’s County. Harrison then fled on-foot but was discovered passed out on a bench by police. Harrison’s blood and DNA were discovered on the steering wheel of the Uber vehicle.
Judge Tucker sentenced Harrison to 20 years in prison, suspending all but five years. The judge ordered Harrison to undergo drug and alcohol evaluation, testing and treatment, along with psychological evaluation and treatment. Upon release, Harrison will be placed on three years of supervised probation.