Iowa man pleads guilty after allegedly kidnapping, robbing and duct-taping 2 women

Published 8:48 am Tuesday, July 31, 2012

ALBERT LEA — One of two Iowa men charged with robbing, duct-taping and then dumping two women in Albert Lea pleaded guilty Monday.

Trayvon Marquis Forrest, 22, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, pleaded guilty to one count of simple robbery, a felony, as part of a plea agreement with the Freeborn County Attorney’s office. His sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, Forrest and co-defendant Michael Lee Kraft, 18, also of Fort Dodge, gave two 18-year-old women from Wisconsin a ride on Interstate 35 when Forrest grabbed the women by the throats, hit them in the face and wrapped duct tape over their mouths and eyes.

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Forrest was a passenger. Court documents say that after about five minutes, Kraft stopped the car in Albert Lea, and the two men reportedly forced the women out and drove away.

The women ran to the A-Lea Apartments on Jansen Street, where they called police.

The two men reportedly stole more than $2,000 in cash, along with purses and suitcases.

Kraft has not yet entered a plea.