Rochester Teen Will Spend Christmas in Prison
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A Rochester teenager has been sent to prison for taking part in a violent robbery in February.
Sentenced Monday to 98 months was 19-year-old Jacob Meier, who pleaded guilty to 1st-degree assault.
According to the criminal complaint, Meier admitted he was the one who hit an employee over the head with a hammer during the robbery of the GameStop store in NW Rochester. The victim suffered a fractured skull. The robbery included several video games and an Xbox that were later recovered by police.
The complaint says Meier told police he and 20-year-old Ali Robida robbed the store. He said Robida “owed a debt to a drug dealer and the robbery was an effort to obtain funds to pay that debt.”
Robida was sentenced earlier to 7 years in prison.
There was a push by the regional Public Defenders Office to keep Meier out of prison. In a lengthy letter sent to Judge Kathy Wallace, the office sought a sentence that would have included a year in jail, probation and successful completion of the Minnesota Teen Challenge Program. Meier also submitted a letter of apology to the victim, his family and the community.
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