Robber Who Held Up A Hudson Valley Gas Station With BB Gun Will Go To Prison

TOWN OF WALLKILL, NY — It was a toy gun, but a Pennsylvania man who robbed a Hudson Valley gas station will get real prison time.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 21-year-old Connor Derrick, of Archbald was sentenced on Friday to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision related to his previous plea of guilty to second-degree robbery.

During plea proceedings, Derrick admitted to forcibly stealing property, and displaying what appeared to be a pistol while committing a crime.

According to court documents, on August 14, around 6:15 a.m., Derrick entered the Sunoco gas station on Ben Gilman Way, in the Town of Wallkill.

After going into the restroom, he selected a drink and food and headed to the cash register. Derrick then took out what appeared to be a pistol, and ordered the cashier to give him all of the cash in the register, which the cashier did. He then fled to a nearby location where he was captured by the police.

It was later determined by police that the weapon Derrick displayed during the robbery was actually a BB gun.

DA Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of Derrick. He also thanked the Town of Wallkill Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

"Violent crime that endangers members of our community will and should be met with significant punishment," DA Hoovler said. "Notwithstanding the fact that, thankfully, no one was hurt in this case, people deserve to feel safe in their places of business. We in law enforcement will not tolerate those who threaten that safety. We will continue to pursue perpetrators of violent crime in Orange County."