A taxi ride ended up costing a man nearly $600 after he hailed a cab in Knoxville for a ride to McMinnville.
However, it wasn’t the fare that cost him. It was the court costs and restitution that came after he failed to pay the cabby after reaching his destination and was charged with theft of services.
The man, Antonio Jermaine Parker, 42, of Nashville appeared before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke this week for arraignment and opted to plea out his case. He was placed on probation for an 11-month, 29-day period and will be allowed a judicial diversion. The diversion means he can have his criminal record erased once his probation is over. He was also directed to make $218 restitution for the cab ride. He will be required to pay a total of $590 in combined restitution and court costs.
He was charged after he arrived in McMinnville and tried to pay the cabby with his debit card.
“It did not have any money available,” said the taxi driver, Sunday Tel of Alcoa. “His card was declined.”
Tel said Parker then went to an ATM but came back and claimed the automated teller wasn’t working.
“He owed me $218 for the ride,” Tel said.
Not wanting to let Parker leave without paying, the cabby refused to give Parker his bag until he received payment for the ride. He contacted authorities who advised him to take out a warrant against his passenger. Parker has been released from jail on time-served.