Iowa man gets 10 years of probation

Published 9:55 am Thursday, October 11, 2012

One of two Iowa men charged with robbing, duct-taping and then dumping two women in Albert Lea last November was sentenced to probation this week in Freeborn County District Court.

Trayvon Forrest

Trayvon Marquis Forrest, 23, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, pleaded guilty in July to one count of simple robbery, a felony, as part of a plea agreement with his lawyer and the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office.

In Freeborn County court Monday, Judge Steve Schwab sentenced Forrest to 10 years of probation.

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He must also complete 40 hours community service, have no alcohol or drugs, submit a DNA sample, have no guns and obtain employment.

According to court documents, Forrest and co-defendant Michael Lee Kraft, 18, also of Fort Dodge, gave two 18-year-old women from Wisconsin a ride on Interstate 35 when Forrest grabbed the women by the throats, hit them in the face and then wrapped duct tape over their mouth and eyes.

Forrest was a passenger in the car.

Court documents state that after about five minutes, the car came to a stop in Albert Lea, and the two men reportedly forced the women out of the car and then drove away.

The women ran to the A-Lea Apartments on Jansen Street, where they called police. The two men reportedly stole more than $2,000 in cash, along with purses and suitcases.

Kraft has not yet entered a plea and is scheduled for a jury trial Jan. 29, 2013.