A 44-year-old Long Beach man was sentenced to four years in state prison Friday, immediately after pleading no contest to one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon—an automobile, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Donald James Kleven would use his vehicle to assault other motorists on the Santa Monica (405) Freeway in the Long Beach area.

“For approximately a one-month period beginning in March 2015, Kleven assaulted motorists with his car during rush hour traffic,” Deputy District Attorney Tapti Patel said. “The defendant would follow his victims, pull up in front of them with his car, and then reverse into their vehicle.”

According to testimony presented at the preliminary hearing, on April 24 he blocked a victim on an onramp to the 405 Freeway, got out of his vehicle and then “began kicking the victim’s car.”

The California Highway Patrol investigated the case.

 

Stephanie Rivera is the community engagement editor. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @StephRivera88.