Plea Deal For Rochester Man Accused of Violent Mini-Crime Spree

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man charged with a violent mini-crime spree in Rochester earlier this year has worked out a plea deal with Olmsted County prosecutors.

According to court records, 39-year-old Bobby Booth was arrested in late February and charged with first-degree aggravated robbery, third-degree assault, and a felony count of fifth-degree assault. Charges stemmed from an armed robbery at a brutal assault.

The criminal complaint alleged that Booth knocked a man unconscious with a punch to his face after the victim attempted to intervene in an altercation at the Rochester Salvation Army. The court document says the attack was captured on a surveillance camera video recording and it shows Booth repeatedly punching the victim in the face, even after he had fallen to the ground.

The charges also alleged Booth began to walk away, but returned and kicked the man while he was lying motionless on the floor. Police reports indicated the victim suffered six broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken collarbone, and a broken orbital bone in his face.

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The following day, Booth allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint at a hotel on Commercial Drive Southwest. He was accused of taking a duffel bag that contained approximately $1300 in cash and other property.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim and his girlfriend were staying in the hotel and were sleeping when they were awakened by a woman knocking on the window. The victim told police the woman had been staying at the hotel the day before and said she wanted to retrieve some of her property. He also stated that the woman had a handgun with her and knew about the cash in the duffel bag.

The charges against Booth say he confronted the victim and his girlfriend as they were leaving their hotel room about five minutes later. The court document alleged he was wearing a face mask and holding a gun when he demanded money from the victim and then tackled the man and wrestled the duffel bag away from him when the victim attempted to get back into the hotel room.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Booth has entered a guilty plea to the third-degree assault charge. The other charges against him, including the aggravated robbery charge, will be dismissed.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

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