A man who jumped into the driver's seat of a pickup truck while its owner was loading merchandise into the truck's bed at the New London Mall in August of 2017 was sentenced Monday in New London Superior Court to 70 months in prison.

Christian Guzman-Jurado, 30, of New London, had pleaded guilty in March to first-degree larceny and first-degree reckless endangerment. He had accepted a plea offer from the state involving a sentence of 15 years in prison, suspended after 70 months served, followed by five years probation.

Prosecutor Lawrence J. Tytla said the victim, who was terrified by the incident, wants to see Guzman-Jurado get the help he needs. Tytla said Guzman-Jurado, who spent several months at the Whiting Forensic Institute while his case was pending, has mental health issues and will require significant treatment.

According to court documents, Guzman-Jurado entered the cab of the woman's Ford F-350 pickup as she was loading items into the truck bed in front of the HomeGoods store on Aug. 16, 2017, The victim told police she thought a store employee was trying to move the truck, so she stepped onto the running board and looked into the driver's side window. She said when she realized it wasn't an employee, she yelled for the man to get out of the truck. She said the man put the car in drive, and she couldn't jump off because her shirt was caught in the window. When he struck a curb and hit a tree in the median, she said she fell onto the ground about 6 inches from the rear tire. She said she saw the tire coming toward her, thought the driver was trying to run over her, and rolled out of the way.

She suffered a crack in her right forearm, according to court documents.

Guzman-Jurado was subsequently arrested in Westchester County, N.Y., where police said he drove the stolen truck into a police cruiser. He was incarcerated in New York before being turned over to the Connecticut Department of Correction.

His attorney, Kevin Barrs, said Guzman-Jurado is clearheaded now that he's taking medication. His sister, who has attended all of his court appearances, watched the sentencing from the gallery.

"I feel really good now," Guzman-Jurado said through a Spanish interpreter. "I'm really sorry for my transgression. Obviously I wasn't in my right mind.

Judge Hillary B. Strackbein told Guzman his documented use of drugs and alcohol doesn't help his mental state and ordered him to use prescribed medication only. She issued a protective order prohibiting him from contact with the victim. She said the Office of Adult Probation would determine whether electronic monitoring is necessary, and that he should not drive without a license and permission from the probation department.

k.florin@theday.com