Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: May 7, 2008

A Lynchburg man accused of robbing the Academy Café earlier this year pleaded guilty to the charges Tuesday.

Edward Lee Cox, 37, entered guilty pleas in Lynchburg Circuit Court to charges of robbery and abduction in the Jan. 11 incident, said Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Doucette.

Cox is scheduled for sentencing on June 27. Doucette said Cox had not made any plea arrangement and had been scheduled for a jury trial on Thursday.

Doucette said the robbery happened after Cox walked into the restroom at the restaurant on Commerce Street shortly before noon. When he came out of the restroom he was carrying a large knife and grabbed waitress Joyce Jackson across the chest, holding the knife to her throat.

“He said he wanted money for drugs, for a fix,” Doucette said. “She told him that he didn’t want to ruin his life for that.”

Another café worker opened the cash register and gave Cox $83, he said.

Jackson continued to plead with Cox, telling him not to take the cash and that he was ruining his life, Doucette said. Cox then pulled her to the door of the restaurant before letting her go.

Doucette said Jackson then started running after him and begging him to give the money back. He stopped and started to hand the money back before telling her no, that he needed the money for drugs, then started running again.

Two construction workers driving by at the time stopped and asked Jackson if she needed help and ended up chasing Cox down and detaining him until police could arrive.

“We don’t recommend that because he had a very large knife in his possession,” Doucette said.