PHOTOS: Plea Deal in Frightening Orange County Robbery

A plea deal has been accepted in the case of a violent Hudson Valley armed robbery according to Orange County, NY District Attorney David M. Hoovler.

Authorities shared that the alleged attempted robbery of a Burger King restaurant in New Windsor, NY left an employee injured after reportedly being struck with a pistol. The plea deal also shared further details of the case.

Orange County, NY D.A. Shares Details of Armed Robbery Plea Deal

District Attorney Hoovler shared that Joseph Rico entered a plea of guilty for robbery in the first degree for actions committed at a Burger King restaurant in New Windsor, NY in the early hours of March 27th 2025:

Rico [allegedly followed] employees entering the building prior to the business opening. Inside, Rico displayed what appeared to be a pistol and directed the employees to the ground. Rico directed an employee to the office, threatened her with what appeared to be a pistol and demanded she open the safe. When the employee refused and attempted to call 911, Rico pistol-whipped her, stole her phone and fled.

Armed Robbery in New York State

New York State Law classifies armed robbery in the first degree as a class B felony, and defines the crime as a robbery where a victim is seriously injured, the perpetrator has a deadly weapon, a firearm is displayed during the robbery, or there is use or threat of use of a "dangerous instrument".

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There have been several armed robbery cases in recent months across the Hudson Valley, including a robbery at a Highland, NY gas station where shots were fired, as well as an alleged robbery and assault at another Burger King location in Ulster County.