An 18-year-old St. Michael man is facing serious charges after an incident earlier this month at the Albertville Meadows apartment complex.
According to a report filed with the Wright County Attorney’s Office by the Wright County deputies, Jason Horton Chea, of Larabee Avenue in St. Michael has been charged with one count of aggravated robbery after he allegedly pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and told a man at the Meadows to “give him all of his stuff.”
The incident happened on Sept. 3, when the Albertville man called deputies and asked them to meet him at the Albertville Circle K Mobile Station. Deputies interviewed Shane Whinnery-Lavone, who stated two males approached him in his vehicle at the Meadows apartment complex.
According to the criminal complaint, Whinnery-Lavone was ordered to give the men his phone, which he did. One of the men then pulled out a gun and stuck it on Whinnery-Lavone’s hip, asking him for all of his “stuff.” Whinnery-Lavone state he “did not have anything,” so the two man “ran off together to the west.”
Investigators later found a juvenile and Shea, but did not find any weapons. After an interview, the juvenile state the two men had spent a night at a residence near the Meadows and admitted to taking Whinnery-Lavone’s phone. The juvenile also said Chea had an “airsoft gun” and pointed it at Whinnery-Lavone.
Investigators then interviewed Chea, who denied knowing anything about a gun. However, a search of the residence the two men were staying at uncovered a backpack containing a 6mm pellet gun.
If convicted on aggravated robbery charges, Chea faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and/or a $35,000 fine.