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An Albert Lea man was sentenced to three years and five months in prison Thursday tied to an armed robbery in March 2024 near Pillsbury Avenue and Sheridan Street in Albert Lea. 

Sa Ka Paw Htoo, 24, pleaded guilty in March to one count of aid and abet aggravated robbery in the first-degree as part of a plea agreement with the Freeborn County Attorney’s Office.

According to court documents, the robbery occurred March 15, 2024, in the area of Pillsbury and Sheridan Street in Albert Lea. Police were dispatched for a report of a firearm being pointed at a vehicle.     

The victim met an officer near the intersection of Pillsbury Avenue and Sheridan Street and told the officer he had arranged a meeting to sell marijuana.    

When he arrived at the meeting place, he saw the male he was supposed to meet, as well as another individual, Sa Ka Paw Htoo. They reportedly both got into the victim’s vehicle — one in the front seat and another in the back when a third person, identified as Eh Wah Htoo, then reportedly approached the vehicle, opened the door to the vehicle and then pointed a shotgun at the victim. Eh Htoo then reportedly racked the shotgun, after which the victim gave him his wallet and two cell phones. They also took about an ounce of marijuana before all three fled in a dark gray Honda Accord.    

Eh Htoo was sentenced to three years in prison in September for a charge of second-degree assault. A charge of aid and abet first-degree aggravated robbery was dismissed.   

As part of the sentence, Judge Christy Hormann gave Sa Htoo credit for 350 days already served in the Freeborn County jail.