Crime & Public Safety
Man pleads guilty after allegedly stealing rideshare vehicle at West Palm Beach gas station
A man accused of taking a rideshare driver’s vehicle at a West Palm Beach gas station entered a plea in Palm Beach County court related to the March 4 incident. Authorities say the driver had stopped for fuel on Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard at Tamarind Avenue when the vehicle was taken.
Court records indicate the Lyft driver went inside the Marathon station to prepay for gas; when he returned, the suspect—identified in court as Declan P. Murphy, 27—had moved from the rear passenger seat into the driver’s seat and departed. The driver arranged for a family member to follow the vehicle and contacted West Palm Beach Police, who were alerted as the vehicle left the scene.
According to the filing, officers responded after a crash involving the stolen car. The suspect exited the vehicle and was tackled by the driver’s relative before West Palm Beach Police took him into custody. The report states the theft led to subsequent criminal charges in Palm Beach County court.
In court on Sept. 28, Murphy pleaded guilty to a grand theft of a motor vehicle charge reduced under a plea agreement; Judge Sarah Willis withheld adjudication of guilt. Sentencing included 23 days credited as time served in the county jail, two years of probation, a six-month driver’s license revocation, and court costs. As part of the agreement, Murphy submitted a $15,000 restitution check on Sept. 25 to be provided to the Lyft driver, per court records.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.