Lang
3/29/24
A Cedar Rapids man has been given two five-year prison sentences after pleading guilty to charges he helped lead a New Year’s Eve riot on the Ped Mall.
Iowa City Police say 21-year-old Demarcus Robertson-Ray of Central Drive SW 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. Robertson-Ray pleaded guilty to the two Willful Injury charges on March 11th, with the other two counts being dismissed.
Robertson-Ray was given a deferred judgment after his involvement in a December 2021 riot in the Capitol Street parking ramp during which he fired several gunshots at other people. Robertson-Ray himself was shot and required hospitalization.
Another suspect in the New Year’s Eve case…23-year-old Eugina Mishark of Ames…has a case management conference set for April 15th. A third suspect…19-year-old Taylor Robinson of Southview Drive NW in Cedar Rapids…has a case management conference scheduled for May 13th. Both are charged with Participating in a Riot, a Class D felony punishable by a maximum of five years in prison.