2nd man pleads not guilty to duct-taping, robbing women

Published 10:02 am Wednesday, December 7, 2011

ALBERT LEA — The second of the two Iowa men charged with allegedly robbing, duct-taping and dumping two women in Albert Lea pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Forrest

Trayvon Marquis Forrest, 22, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, pleaded not guilty to one count of simple robbery and requested a jury trial. The trial date has not yet been set.

Forrest and co-defendant Michael Lee Kraft, 18, also of Fort Dodge, reportedly gave two 18-year-old women from Wisconsin a ride on Interstate 35 on Nov. 7 when Forrest, seated in the front passenger seat, allegedly grabbed the women by the throats, hit them in the face and then wrapped duct tape over their mouths and eyes.

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Kraft allegedly continued to drive while this was going on.

After about five minutes, Kraft stopped in Albert Lea, and the two men reportedly forced the women out of the car and drove away.

Kraft

The women ran to an apartment complex on Jansen Street, where they called police. Kraft and Forrest reportedly stole more than $2,000 in cash, along with purses and suitcases.

The men were later stopped and arrested by deputies with the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office after crossing into Iowa.

Freeborn County Attorney Craig Nelson said Monday he anticipates the trial will last three days.

Forrest appeared out of custody with Kraft.