Man who shot singer Marc Cohn jailed

DENVER - A man who pleaded guilty to shooting Grammy-winning singer Marc Cohn during a botched carjacking last year has been sentenced to 36 years in prison.

Joseph Yacteen, 27, pleaded guilty in July to attempted first-degree murder for the August 2005 shooting in downtown Denver. Cohn and his manager were both slightly injured in the shooting.

Denver District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough said Yacteen could have faced a 48-year maximum sentence, but the judge felt Yacteen could be rehabilitated.

"We argued for the maximum but the judge was moved by his impassioned plea that he was genuinely remorseful and would not re-offend," Kimbrough said.

The shooting occurred after Cohn and his manager were driving away from a Denver concert performance by the singer-songwriter.

Yacteen attempted to commandeer the vehicle at gunpoint and fired into the vehicle.

A bullet lodged in Cohn's skull, but was removed and didn't seriously injure the singer.

Cohn, best known for the hit song Walking in Memphis, did not attend the hearing. He is married to ABC News' 20/20 anchor Elizabeth Vargas.

- REUTERS