Morales pleads guilty to riot charge

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WORTHINGTON — A 19-year-old Worthington man pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor riot charge Wednesday in an agreement that dismissed two felony charges.

Armando Antonio Morales Jr. was charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and second-degree riot armed with a dangerous weapon, along with the third-degree riot charge, after an incident in June, when he was accused of getting involved in an altercation between several people and hitting a young woman in the head with a stick.

During an interview with authorities, Morales denied being at the scene when the altercation took place and said he did not see a fight or hit anyone with a stick. He told another officer he saw the fight and that his girlfriend’s sister fought with the victim and hit her with a stick.

During court Wednesday, Morales stated under questioning he was present at the time of the altercation and saw the groups of people talking back and forth. He said the fight was between the victim and another woman and that another man was there, and that “something happened,” but said he intended to pay restitution as part of the plea agreement.

He was sentenced to one year in the county jail, but that time was stayed on the condition he serve two years probation, pay restitution of $5,362 in medical bills and a $1,000 fine and have no contact with the victim.

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