Rochester Teen Enters Guilty Plea in Gunpoint Robbery

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - One of the two teenagers charged with recently robbing a group of young men at gunpoint in Rochester has pleaded guilty.

According to court documents, 19-year-old Nicklas Jordan Cheng of Rochester and 18-year-old Aizeah Martinez were charged in December after a SWAT team, Rochester Police, and Plainview police executed a pair of high-profile search warrants in Plainview and Rochester.

Martinez. Olmsted County ADC

SWAT Search Warrants Led to Charges

The searches were connected to an investigation into a robbery reported in Rochester in early December. The criminal complaints against Cheng and Martinez say three young males told investigators they had arranged to meet the two men to sell them clothing.

The victims told police they arrived at a meeting location in the 2600 block of 4th Avenue Northeast in a vehicle, while Martinez and Cheng arrived on foot. The suspects were accused of pulling guns on the victims and demanding that they turn over the clothing for free. It is also alleged that Martinez and Cheng demanded the victims’ cell phones and shoes so they could not flee or call police.

Photo by Andy Brownell-TSM Rochester

Expensive Clothing Stolen

According to the charges, Martinez also allegedly threatened to kill the victims if they contacted law enforcement. The value of the stolen items was estimated at more than $5,000.

The criminal complaints say the search of Martinez’s home in Plainview led to the seizure of a .22-caliber pistol and clothing that matched the description of the items stolen during the robbery.

Martinez & Cheng complaint. Olmsted County Court

Cheng was charged with three counts of aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery, while Martinez was charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated robbery and three counts of witness tampering.

Plea Deal

Cheng entered a guilty plea on Tuesday to one count of aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced in May.

Martinez is scheduled for another court hearing later this week.

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Gallery Credit: Minnesota Now

Filed Under: crime spree, Plainview, robbery, Rochester armed robbery, Rochester Police Department

Categories: Local News