Lengthily Jail Sentence For Knife-Wielding Robber

A local man is heading to prison for a significant amount of time for a knife-point robbery of a taxi driver.

On Monday in Orange County Court, Jerry Powlus, 41, of Middletown was sentenced to 11 years in state prison and five years post release supervision in connection with an August 21, 2016, knife-point robbery of a taxi driver on Wickham Avenue in the City of Middletown.

Powlus was arrested the day after the robbery after he attempted to flee police, officials say.

“Our community will be safer during the decade that this defendant will be in state prison,” Orange County District Attorney David M Hoovler said. “Robbery, whether it is committed by someone pointing a gun or a knife, simply cannot be tolerated, and my office will seek appropriate sanctions against anyone who chooses to use a weapon unlawfully. I hope that this sentence serves to deter anyone tempted to use a weapon to steal from hard working taxi driver.”

Powlus had pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in January.

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