A Phoenix teenager who documented his own crime spree on his cellphone is heading to state prison for more than seven years after pleading guilty to a string of vehicle thefts that caused over $600,000 in losses across the metro area.
Jashwa Hicks, 19, was sentenced on multiple felony counts — seven for vehicle theft and one for weapons misconduct — stemming from a theft operation that spanned roughly six months between October 2024 and April 2025. All sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective term of seven and a half years. Hicks received credit for nearly a year already served, and more than a dozen additional counts were dismissed as part of his plea agreement. A restitution hearing is scheduled for April 22nd.
The case unraveled after Phoenix police tracked a stolen vehicle to the area of McCormick Ranch Golf Club in May 2025, following a theft report near 40th Street and Camelback Road. When investigators searched Hicks’ cellphone, they found photographs, videos and text messages tying him to 14 additional vehicle thefts — evidence he had unwittingly preserved himself.
What made the outcome particularly striking was Hicks’ history. At the time of his arrest, he was already on probation for two separate vehicle thefts committed in May and July of 2024. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said the sentence reflects a pattern of repeated chances squandered.
At least one victim submitted a statement describing the lasting emotional toll of having their vehicle stolen, saying the experience left them feeling violated and perpetually on edge.
