Nicholas Nesse was robbed for $16.10 and a pizza he was delivering. But that was not all. His injuries also took his ability to remember things and kept him from completing college. And he has had to give up his dream of becoming a computer engineer, at least for now.

Testimony at a court hearing Friday outlined how the crime changed the freshman college student’s life.

The hearing was a part of the process for criminal charges brought against five defendants &045; three adults and two juveniles &045; all of whom already received sentences.

Unlike a civil lawsuit, only out-of-pocket expenses already spent as a result of injury are considered. The insurance company claimed it provided $29,000 in coverage, and Nesse’s parents filed $9,500, including the college tuition they paid for Nesse and costs to accompany him to the hospital.

The crime took place around midnight on May 20, 2002 at a driveway of an Albert Lea residence where Nesse was delivering a pizza for Domino’s. The perpetrators ordered the pizza to a fake address and ambushed Nesse, hitting him on the head with an axe handle.

Though he was released from Mayo Clinic four days later after being airlifted there, the blows to his skull resulted in the loss of his short-term memory, peripheral vision and sense of smell.

&uot;I forget about a phone call, where I put my wallet … It’s just frustrating,&uot; Nesse said.

He had to quit his electronic technician courses at Riverland Community College in Austin after missing final exams for the spring semester. Despite rehabilitation efforts, Nesse’s mother, Patricia, said she has not seen much improvement in his memory.

Nesse said he has been trying to develop means for memory, noting things for recollection or asking somebody else to remember things for him. The doctor allowed him to drive alone after a few months and start working just recently, but has not recommended resuming college courses, according to his testimony.

Now Nesse works at the packing line of Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen, hoping to make money to study at the college again.

&uot;I was planning to go to Rochester and work for IBM,&uot; said Nesse, who loves computers. &uot;I’d really like to go back to school.&uot;

The three adult suspects &045; Juan Miguel Sanchez, Jason Sokolofsky and Sandra Banuelos &045; were sentenced last year. Sanchez and Sokolofsky pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting robbery and received prison sentences of a year and a day, but won’t have to serve the time unless they violate their probation. Both could be on probation up to five years. Investigators could not pin down which assailant swung the axe handle, so they weren’t able to prosecute either for assault.

Banuelos, who drove the car and placed the phone call ordering the pizza, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 240 hours of community service.

The defendants will be responsible for paying the restitution charges.