Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of Grammy Singer

Yacteen Faces 19 Felony Charges, 90 Years In Prison

Posted: 08/17/2005
Last Updated: 2833 days ago

The man accused of shooting a Grammy winning singer in the head during a carjacking attempt faces 19 felonies.

Joseph Yacteen, 26, was charged Thursday and faces a number of charges including attempted first-degree murder with "extreme indifference," assault, robbery, menacing and criminal trespass.

Yacteen is suspected of shooting singer Marc Cohn and his manager in downtown Denver on Aug 7.

Prosecutors allege that Yacteen shot Cohn as part of a crime spree that involved another failed carjacking and a successful one.

Yacteen's girlfriend, Patricia Vail, 23, also was charged for allegedly helping him while he was running from police. She has been released on $50,000 bond. Yacteen remains in jail.

Cohn was hit in the left temple when a man fired into his band's van in a parking garage. Cohn and his manager -- who was grazed by the bullet and received injuries from the shattered glass -- were treated and released from a hospital the next day.

Cohn is known for the hit song "Walking in Memphis" and won the Grammy for best new artist in 1991. Cohn's wife, ABC News Anchor Elizabeth Vargas, said her husband is doing well.

Cohn called off the remaining five shows on his concert tour, but said he plans to reschedule.

Yacteen's alleged crime spree all started when Yacteen, who was wanted for failing to appear in court, parked his car on light-rail tracks. Security officers for the Regional Transportation found him in a hotel across the street where he was attempting to pay for a room with a credit card that a clerk suspected was stolen. When RTD officers told him he had to wait for police, he fled and attempted to steal one car before attempting to steal the van that Cohn was riding in.

Yacteen allegedly fired into the van, grazing Cohn's manager before hitting Cohn. Two other men, Jay Bellerose and Michael Barakan, were also in the van and all four are named as victims in the attempted first-degree murder charge, said district attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough.

Kimbrough said the charges against Yacteen involve crimes against 13 different victims.

Yacteen is also accused forcing four men out of another vehicle nearby and fleeing. He was later found in a vacant house where he holed up for 5 1/2 hours before police forced him out with tear gas.

Yacteen was also charged with second-degree assault, aggravated robbery, two counts of attempted aggravated robbery, 12 counts of menacing and two counts of first-degree criminal trespass. He would face up to 90 years in prison if convicted of all counts, Kimbrough said.

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Copyright Copyright 2005 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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