Orange County man convicted in Palisades Mall knifepoint robbery

BY MICHAEL RICONDA

NEW CITY – An Orange County resident arrested in May 2013 for briefly menacing a Palisades Mall employee with a knife while he stole an Xbox was found guilty on Monday.

Devon Thomas, 22, was convicted by a jury of one count of third-degree robbery, a class D felony that carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Thomas’ legal issues began when he attempted to shoplift an Xbox from the Best Buy. When he was confronted by a loss prevention employee and asked to show a receipt, he produced a hunting knife instead and said, “Not today.”

The employee allowed Thomas to leave, but followed him out to the parking lot while Clarkstown Police, alerted to the incident, broadcast the suspect’s description. Using the information, State Police later identified and arrested Thomas on Route 17 in Monroe.

Thomas, who had been free on bail until his conviction, is scheduled for sentencing on April 13. Until then, he has been remanded to the custody of the Rockland County Jail.