21-year-old Cedar Rapids man convicted of robbing man for $200

CEDAR RAPIDS - A 21-year-old man, who four men say threatened to 'shoot up” a party that ended in Latasha Roundtree being killed in 2012, pleaded guilty Thursday to robbing and threatening a man last year.

Devonte Safforld of Cedar Rapids made an Alford plea to second-degree robbery in Linn County District Court. An Alford plea is when a defendant claims innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Safforld originally was charged with first-degree robbery.

According to a criminal complaint, Safforld and others agreed to give Robert K. Norman a ride from Marion to Center Point. But when they stopped, Safforld pulled Norman out of the car, displayed a handgun and robbed him of $200.

Safforld admitted during the hearing that he pointed the gun at Norman and demanded the money.

Sixth Judicial District Senior Judge Thomas Koehler asked, 'You won't admit that you intended to commit theft?”

Safforld said that was correct.

'But given the fact that you faced 25 years and you're being allowed to plead to the lesser charge, you're willing to plead guilty?”

Safforld agreed.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said Norman agreed to the plea agreement. Safforld faces up to 10 years in prison and will have to serve a minimum of seven years before being eligible for parole.

According to testimony in the Tajh Ross murder trial, Ross and three other defendants said they got information from another person that Safforld was coming to shoot people at a party on Sept. 22, 2012, and they brought guns to defend themselves.

Maybanks said Safforld was called to testify in the Ross trial, but after showing up in court he became 'volatile” and refused to take the stand.

Ross, 20, shot and killed Roundtree, 19, who was coming to the party with her two friends that night. Ross fired his .40- caliber handgun at the car, hitting Roundtree in the head. She wasn't targeted, but she was the only victim.

Ross was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges and is serving a life sentence. Three others pleaded guilty to lesser charges and are serving prison time, and two others pleaded to lesser charges and received probation.