Knife Assault at Rochester Day Shelter Lands Man in Prison

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The man charged in a knife assault at a Rochester day shelter has been sent to prison. 

See Also: Man Shot and Killed Outside of Rochester Apartment Complex, Police Investigating 

He formally entered a guilty plea and was immediately sentenced during a hearing in Olmsted County Court Thursday afternoon. 

Court records indicate he has a criminal record with seven felony convictions in violent crime cases. 

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29-Year-Old Man Gets Prison Sentence for Knife Incident at Rochester Day Shelter

Rochester police arrested 29-year-old Refugio Muniz on the afternoon of May 22 after responding to the report of a man physically assaulting another man then threatening staff with a knife at the LandingMN in downtown Rochester. 

The criminal complaint says Muniz slapped a man across the face while the two were at a table outside of the building. 

He was also accused of then brandishing a knife and threatening to cut a staff member when he was told to leave the premises, the court document says. Officers recovered a knife in Muniz’s front pocket. 

Rochester police said the victim was taken to a hospital for an evaluation. No injuries were reported. 

Muniz was charged with second-degree assault, felony threats and misdemeanor assault. 

On Thursday he agreed to plead guilty to the threats and misdemeanor assault counts in exchange for the dismissal of the felony assault charge. He was then immediately sentenced to three years in prison.