WORTHINGTON -- Three out-of-area individuals have been charged in Nobles County District Court in an alleged aggravated burglary of a Worthington residence in early December.
Christian Walls, 18, and Albert Hughes, 19, both of Montevideo, and Jakwan Horton, 17, of Bellingham face a string of felony-level offenses after being accused of breaking and entering a residence with dangerous weapons, including an AR-15 rifle.
According to the criminal complaint filed Dec. 7, four individuals with bandanas covering their faces entered a Worthington property around 1 a.m. Dec. 4. According to the alleged victims, each carried dangerous weapons, including an AR-15, hammers, steel pipes and a knife.
The three victims were ordered to get on the ground. They were then asked where the money and weed were located, according to one of the victims. The victims thought they recognized a couple of the burglars, as they had been to the house earlier that same week to purchase marijuana, the complaint states.
The suspects gathered various items with an estimated value at slightly less than $2,000. One of the victims was struck in the face with the butt of the gun, the complaint states.
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Once the four suspects left by car, the victims ran after them barefooted (the suspects allegedly stole their name-brand shoes) and in their pajamas. The victims soon got in a car and were able to strike the suspect vehicle twice before both vehicles spun out in the ditch, prompting the alleged burglars to encourage the one with the gun to shoot.
According to statements made to law enforcement by one of the suspects, he heard the click of the trigger, but nothing happened. He stated he didn’t know if the gun was jammed. The suspects then took off by foot, he said.
During a post-arrest interview with one of the suspects, law enforcement learned a female teenager drove the vehicle of suspects from Granite Falls to Worthington. Three individuals entered her vehicle and allegedly put a gun to the back of her head, the complaint states.
The driver was allegedly told she’d be shot if she did not drive them to the Worthington address, or if she stopped or slowed down.
A Worthington police officer was notified of the incident when a complainant, unrelated to the incident, called to report suspicious, barefooted people knocking on doors.
Another suspect named in the complaint had not been formally charged as of early Friday afternoon.
Walls and Hughes each face charges of felony first-degree burglary; felony first-degree burglary with possession of a dangerous weapon; felony first-degree aiding and abetting burglary; felony first-degree aiding and abetting burglary with possession of a dangerous weapon; felony first-degree aiding and abetting aggravated robbery; and felony aiding and abetting theft.
If convicted of any of the more serious charges, the duo face mandatory minimum sentences of not less than six months imprisonment, maximum of not more than 20 years, a $35,000 fine or both. Walls made his first appearance Tuesday in Nobles County District Court.
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Horton is charged with felony first-degree aiding and abetting burglary; felony first-degree aiding and abetting burglary with possession of a dangerous weapon; felony first-degree aiding and abetting aggravated robbery; and misdemeanor aiding and abetting theft.
Walls’ mugshot was the only one available.
