Judge gives second chance to 19-year-old charged in robbery

A judge gave a second chance to a 19-year-old, who admitted to threatening a convenience store clerk with a knife for cigarettes last year, by giving him a deferred judgment Monday.

Martrell Watson of Cedar Rapids, originally charged with first-degree robbery, pleaded guilty in May to amended charges of conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent. The penalty for both charges is 15 years but a judge ran them concurrently for a 10 year sentence and then granted a deferred judgment in accordance with a plea agreement.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Lars Anderson said he struggled with going along with the plea agreement for a deferred judgment, but he was impressed with Watson's written statement of what happened that day. Watson admitted to the crime and didn't 'minimize” his involvement, Anderson said.

Watson apologized to the court and said he has learned that what he did affected not only the victim but also the community and he was sorry for his actions.

Watson and a juvenile went into the Kwik Shop, 1001 First Ave NW, on Sept. 7, 2014, and Watson threatened a clerk, Karen Phelps, with a knife as he demanded cigarettes, according to a criminal complaint. The crime was also captured on surveillance video.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said Phelps attempted to call 911 and then Watson threw a candy bar at her and he and the juvenile ran out of the store. Maybanks said this was a violent offense because Watson had a weapon and threatened someone, but he agreed to the plea agreement because Watson 'took responsibility” for the crime and for the fact that he has been in jail since his arrest last year.

Maybanks dismissed the first-degree robbery charge as part of the plea agreement. Anderson also placed Watson at the Larry Nelson Center for the first year of his four years probation. Watson will also have to undergo a substance abuse evaluation while on probation.

Watson will remain in the Linn County Jail until there is a bed available at the center.