Lang
3/17/24
One of three suspects accused of instigating a New Year’s Eve riot on the Ped Mall has entered a guilty plea.
21-year-old Demarcus Robertson-Ray of Central Drive SW in Cedar Rapids entered the plea earlier this week. Iowa City Police say Robertson-Ray participated in a riot with at least four other people outside DC’s at approximately 11:51 p.m. on December 31st. Arrest records indicate Robertson-Ray assaulted a man and two women…including the mother of his child. Two of the victims suffered serious injuries.
Robertson-Ray was charged with Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, Willful Injury Causing Bodily Injury, Participating in a Riot and Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Injury. If convicted on all four charges, he could have faced a maximum of 18 years in prison.
Terms of the plea deal have not been released. On Thursday, Judge Jason Burns set a sentencing date of March 28th. Robertson-Ray was given a deferred judgment after his involvement in a December 2021 riot in the Capitol Street parking ramp during which he allegedly fired several gunshots at other people. Robertson-Ray himself was shot and required hospitalization.
Another suspect in the New Year’s Eve case…18-year-old Taylor Robinson of Southview Drive NW in Cedar Rapids…is set to be arraigned on Monday. A third suspect……23-year-old Eugina Mishark of Ames…has a case management conference set for April 15th. Both are charged with Participating in a Riot, a Class D felony punishable by a maximum of five years in prison.