Man convicted of carjacking Salem man with screwdriver

A 32-year-old man was sentenced Friday to seven and a half years in prison for kidnapping and robbing a Salem resident after threatening him with a screwdriver.

Christopher Cortez Tolbert was convicted by a Marion County jury of first-degree robbery, second-degree kidnapping and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after a two-day trial.

Before the jury reached its verdict, Tolbert also pleaded guilty to fleeing a police officer, hit and run and resisting arrest.

Prosecutors said that on the night of Feb. 9, while a Salem man was in his vehicle at a stop sign, Tolbert opened the passenger door and got in.

He pointed a screwdriver at the man and ordered him to ‘go’. The man drove Tolbert around Salem for about ten minutes before Tolbert had him stop and change seats. From there, Tolbert drove the vehicle and refused to let the man go. The man said Tolbert held the screwdriver in his hand the entire time he drove.

After a few hours, Tolbert drove the man to Polk County, near the Premier RV Resort. Tolbert demanded that the man give him $3,000, but he refused.

Tolbert broke the man’s phone and took his chain, wallet and identification cards before telling him he could go.

The man found help by contacting Premier RV’s night watchman, who contacted police.

Tolbert was arrested by Salem police about an hour later after fleeing from two Keizer Police Department officers in the man’s car.

When Tolbert lost control of the vehicle during the chase, he damaged another vehicle and fled on foot. He was found with the man’s belongings in his pocket and a screwdriver in his backpack.

Marion County Circuit Court Judge Audrey Broyles presided over the trial. Defense attorney Michelle Vlach-Ing represented Tolbert, and the state was represented by Deputy District Attorney Mae D’Amico. Broyles sentenced Tolbert to seven years and six months in prison. He was also given an additional 61 months for separate counts of theft, car theft and fleeing police.

At the time of his arrest, Tolbert had 47 arrests and multiple prior convictions.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at [email protected]call 503-910-6616 or follow @wmwoodworth