Oscar Zuniga, 30, was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison after pleading guilty in a daytime carjacking and armed robbery that left a 34‑year‑old man without his truck. A Ramsey County judge imposed the term under a plea agreement that wrapped up the case. The crime dates back to March 2, 2025, and ended in a high‑speed chase across St. Paul that came to a stop when the stolen Toyota Tundra crashed near an I‑35E entrance ramp.
The Crime And The Chase
According to the Pioneer Press, the March 2, 2025, encounter began when Zuniga, identified in court papers as “mouse,” put a handgun to the back of the victim’s head and ordered him to empty his pockets. The 34‑year‑old turned over his wallet and phone, then got out of his Toyota Tundra. The truck then sped off with an accomplice behind the wheel.
Police said the Tundra hit roughly 65 to 70 mph, blew through red lights, and swerved into oncoming traffic before it finally crashed near an I‑35E ramp. Officers pinned the truck there and took a person into custody.
What The Law Says
Under Minnesota law, first‑degree carjacking, which involves using or showing a weapon while taking a motor vehicle from someone, can bring a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Lower degrees of carjacking carry lower maximum penalties. The crime is defined in section 609.247 of the Minnesota statutes.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has reported that carjackings went up statewide in 2024. Officials have pointed to that trend when they talk about how they charge cases and handle plea talks.
Plea Deal And Prior Record
Coverage and court records show Zuniga has prior convictions, including a 2022 simple robbery conviction and a 2023 second‑degree aggravated robbery conviction, along with older violent‑crime convictions going back to 2014. As part of the plea agreement that led to Monday’s sentence, prosecutors dropped a request for an aggravated sentence, and a related aiding‑and‑abetting carjacking charge was dismissed at sentencing, the Pioneer Press reports…