A Collin County jury sentenced a Frisco man to 75 years in prison for an aggravated robbery that left a Lyft driver with a slashed throat and severe hand injuries, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Antwain Karmen Williams, 20, pleaded guilty to the first-degree felony. Snapchat messages showed he planned to steal the vehicle to kidnap a 13-year-old who was the alleged victim in a separate, pending sexual performance by a child case, prosecutors said.
Lyft driver survives throat slashing
Officers responded to the Legends at Legacy apartments at 3700 Legacy Drive on December 16, 2024, and found the wounded driver in the parking lot, Frisco police said in their original arrest announcement.
The driver identified his attacker as his passenger before emergency surgery. He survived, according to the district attorney’s release.
Frisco Detective Justin Freeman obtained Lyft records within hours. Although the rider used a false name, the account’s email address and phone number linked to Williams, prosecutors said.
Williams fled in the stolen vehicle and crashed into another car before Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Justin Diaz arrested him, according to the release.
Snapchat evidence exposes child kidnapping plan
During a post-arrest interview, Williams initially blamed someone prosecutors described as a fictional person, then claimed the driver had locked him inside the car and that he attacked to escape.
A Snapchat photograph showed Williams holding the stolen keys with the caption “we mobile baby,” while an earlier message stated “I’m boutta get a car,” prosecutors said.
“This man attacked a hardworking Lyft driver at knifepoint, nearly killing him with a slit throat and severe wounds, as part of a plan to kidnap a 13-year-old child. A Collin County jury heard the full evidence and delivered a 75-year sentence. Our community won’t tolerate this kind of violence,” Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis (R) said in the release.
Jurors heard evidence concerning the pending child-related case and other alleged conduct during the punishment proceedings, prosecutors said. That evidence included allegations that Williams recorded and posted sexual videos involving former girlfriends, ages 16 and 17, without their permission.
Judge Jim Pruitt presided. Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Alex Haynes and Anthony D’Amore prosecuted the case with assistance from District Attorney Investigator Greg Bowers.
