Spring Valley Teen Guilty In Armed Robbery Of Taxi Driver

SPRING VALLEY, NY — A teenager has entered a guilty plea in connection with the brazen armed robbery of a cab driver, according to Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh.

Uzziah Theodore of Spring Valley admitted to robbing a taxi driver at gun and knifepoint with an accomplice who was never caught. The 18-year-old will be sentenced on felony robbery charges once the plea is accepted.

Theodore admitted to using his cell phone to request a taxi and then directing the taxi driver to drive to an isolated location on January 3 of last year. Instead of paying the fare, Theodore put a firearm to the taxi driver's head. The accomplice, sitting behind the taxi driver, put his arm around the taxi driver’s neck and put a knife to his cheek.

After a brief struggle, the driver managed to grab Theodore’s gun and put the car in park. The cabbie then pushed Theodore’s hand away with the gun and fled the taxi. The accomplice chased the victim from the cab, swinging a knife at him before stealing a gold chain from the cab driver's neck.

Meanwhile, Theodore took money and the driver’s cell phone from the taxi.

“The actions of Mr. Theodore and his accomplice could have resulted in serious injury and the deaths of multiple parties involved in this incident,” Walsh said in a statement announcing the plea. “This type of threat of extreme violence is very troublesome and has no place in Rockland County.”