An Orange County jury has delivered a life sentence to Richard Warren, a 27-year-old repeat offender. Warren was convicted on multiple charges, including Kidnapping with Intent to Inflict Harm/Terror with a Firearm, Carjacking with a Firearm, and Robbery with a Firearm, stemming from an incident with an Uber driver earlier this year.
The alarming events began on July 20 when Warren hailed an Uber. Shortly after being picked up, he brandished a firearm at the driver, forced him to various locations across Orange County, and eventually commanded him to get into the trunk at an auto parts store. According to a release from the State Attorney's Office, the driver was later ordered to disrobe before being told to exit the vehicle at an intersection in the 8200 block of Universal Boulevard. After escaping, the victim contacted law enforcement, leading to Warren's arrest at a Walmart in Kissimmee.
On top of these offenses, Warren was found guilty of violating his probation from previous convictions. Notably, he had served nine years for charges related to a 2013 home invasion and had been released from prison just one year before this latest crime. Under Florida law, committing a violent felony within three years of being released from prison subjects the offender to enhanced penalties as a prison release re-offender, the statement from the Orange County State Attorney's Office further explained.
Warren, a repeat offender, was sentenced to life in prison, with an additional 40 years for probation violations. An assistant state attorney from the Violent Crimes Unit handled the case.
