MASON CITY – On Wednesday, November 21st, 22-year-old Victoria Ann Carrot of 728 N. Delaware Avenue posted a $5,000 cash bond to obtain pre-trial release for her part in a Mason City home invasion.
Carrot had been held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail since October 25th, after she allegedly drove her 3 co-defendants to a residence at 110 12th Street SE. The 3 co-defendants exited her vehicle, one armed with a sawed-off shotgun, and forcible entered the residence to rob an occupant.
Victoria was cornered by law enforcement with one of the co-defendants in her vehicle fleeing the scene. Schools in the area were on lockdown until all four suspects were in custody and the shotgun reportable used in the home invasion was recovered.
Victoria Carrot is charged with charged with one Class B forcible felony count of Aiding and Abetting 1st degree Robbery and one Class B forcible felony count Aiding and Abetting 1st Degree Burglary.
Both charges are considered forcible felonies in Iowa and carry up to 25 years in prison for each charge if convicted. Under Iowa sentencing laws a defendant convicted of a forcible felony must serve at least 70 percent of the maximum sentence before being eligible for parole.
A trial date has been set for January 15th in Cerro Gordo County District Court. Carrot has received court appointed council after claiming not to be able to afford to hire her own defense lawyer, yet was able to post $5,000 cash in her name to be released from jail pending trial.
On Friday, November 16th, District Court Judge Christopher C. Foy reduced the bond requirement against co-defendant 27-year-old Joshua Alberto Rutledge of Mason City following an earlier bond reduction hearing. Rutledge now has a reduced bond requirement of $10,000 cash surety or lessor $1500 cash posted with the clerk of court in Rutledge’s name following Judge Foy’s ruling.
Co-defendant Jason Jones had a bond reduction hearing before Judge Weiland in Monday, November 26th. Judge Weiland has not entered a ruling at this time.
In 2009 Mason City police arrested Jones for 2nd Degree Robbery and False Imprisonment. The robbery charge was not pursued, instead the prosecution filed 5th degree theft and Judge Grupp amended the false imprisonment to simple assault.
Co-defendant Justin Stauffer has not applied for a bond reduction at this time.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
First a disclaimer… I am fully against the recent Cerro Gordo County judges who seem to be delivering deferred or reduced sentences. However, last I knew it was a right for anyone to post bail while awaiting their trial. The headline makes it appear that this person was not punished for her crime. However, once you click on it and NIT gets the click throughs then you realize it’s just a sensationalized article stating somebody posted bail. Isn’t this done on a daily basis?
I like many others don’t take serious crimes such as these lightly. I find it incredibly frustrating that she posted bond for helping others perform this crime. I agree with a previous poster people should let her sit in jail and pay the price until the court can decide what to do. Life lessons need to be learned not here’s a slap on the wrist 2 weeks in jail is a big enough scare! ugh! Get a job and work hard like the rest of us! We don’t need to support your petty ass!
How nice… calling people dipshits…maybe the dipshits who posted bond should have saved the money and put it towards her fines, lawyer costs, restitution to the victim and left her theiving rump in jail….but NO now she’s out on the streets to screw up again. Wonder how long it will before she breaks her pre trial release requirements!! ?? Anyone who really cared about her would have left her in there to learn a lesson.
How could she post a 5000 dollar bond in her own name? She was in jail you dumbshits. Apparently someone who loves her put up her bond. Do your research before you post these articles.