Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt today announced that a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge sentenced Benjamin Louis Hooper, 38, to 129 months in prison for a carjacking that took place in 2020. A jury found Hooper guilty of:
- Four counts of Robbery in the First Degree with a Firearm
- Two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon with a Firearm
- One count of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle with a Firearm
- Two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- One count of Assault in the Fourth Degree
On September 30, 2020, a woman was sitting in her parked car at SE 89th and Market Street when she was approached by Hooper, who demanded that she exit her vehicle while pointing a handgun in her face. The woman grabbed at Hooper, and he shot one round into the front quarter panel of her vehicle. Hooper then opened the woman’s door, threw her to the ground, and stole her purse before driving away. Items that Hooper left at the scene, video surveillance, and DNA collected from the stolen vehicle when it was recovered ultimately led to the identification of him as the suspect in this case.
The trial took place May 1-3, resulting in a guilty verdict from the 12-person jury. Judge Celia Howes imposed the 129-month prison sentence on Friday, May 19.
Hooper is currently in custody in Multnomah County and will be transported to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.
