LEWISTON — A local man pleaded guilty Friday to charges stemming from a cab ride from Portland last year.

Kamari Solomon, 18, of 308 Bates St. admitted in 8th District Court to two misdemeanor charges, including theft of services and theft by unauthorized taking. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail on each count and was credited for time served in jail while awaiting trial.

He was ordered to pay $170 in restitution to the driver of a Port City Taxi cab who picked up Solomon at the Concord Bus Terminal in Portland on Aug. 12 and drove him to 93 Walnut St. in Lewiston.

According to a police detective’s sworn statement, when the driver stopped the cab, his passenger put a knife to the driver’s throat and took money from his shirt pocket.

He said his passenger fled on foot. The driver said he tried to stop the passenger, who entered a nearby building. The driver said he went around to the back of the building where he saw the passenger leave. He showed the driver a knife and “placed it to his stomach area,” the detective wrote.

The driver told police he followed the passenger on Walnut Street to the end of Pierce Street, where the passenger took off running. At that point, the driver called 911. He said he was missing about $100.

Police found Solomon and took him to the police station for questioning. After he was read his rights, he waived his right to keep silent, the detective wrote.

Solomon initially denied any knowledge of the incident, but later acknowledged that he had taken the cab from Portland to Lewiston. He denied using a knife and taking any money from the driver, the detective wrote.

The driver identified Solomon from of a photo lineup.

With permission from Solomon’s mother to search her home, police found pants and shoes that Solomon had worn during the incident, the detective wrote. No knife or cash was recovered.

Prosecutors dismissed a felony robbery charge punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

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