Deal for Rochester man accused of series of violent mini-crimes

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) – A man accused of a series of violent minor crimes in Rochester earlier this year has negotiated a deal with the Olmsted County District Attorney's Office.

According to court documents 39-year-old Bobby Booth was arrested in late February and charged with first-degree aggravated robbery, third-degree assault and fifth-degree assault. The charges stemmed from an armed robbery during a brutal attack.

The criminal complaint alleges that Booth knocked a man unconscious with a punch to the face after the victim tried to intervene in an altercation at the Salvation Army in Rochester. Court documents say the attack was captured on surveillance video and shows Booth repeatedly punching the victim in the face even after he had fallen to the ground.

Prosecutors also allege that Booth tried to walk away but then came back and kicked the man as he lay motionless on the ground. According to police reports, the victim suffered six broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken collarbone and a broken orbital bone in his face.

The next day, Booth allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint at a hotel on Commercial Drive Southwest. He was accused of stealing a duffel bag containing about $1,300 in cash and other valuables.

According to the indictment, the victim and his girlfriend were staying at the hotel and were sleeping when they were awakened by a woman knocking on the window. The victim told police the woman had stayed at the hotel the day before and said she wanted to get some of her belongings back. He also stated that the woman had a gun on 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. Court documents say he was wearing a face mask and had a gun in his hand as he demanded money from the victim. He then attacked the man and snatched his duffel bag as the victim tried to get back into the hotel room.

As part of the agreement, Booth pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and the other charges against him, including aggravated robbery, will be dropped.

The verdict is scheduled for October.

More Minnesota News:

10 Things You'll Learn Quickly When You Move to Minnesota