CLEARFIELD – One of three men accused of robbing a man in his residence was in court Tuesday asking for his $100,000 bail to be reduced.
Mackenzie A. Carlson, 18, 602 Locust St., DuBois, is charged with two counts of robbery, burglary, simple assault, theft by unlawful taking, recklessly endangering another person, criminal trespass, two counts of criminal conspiracy/robbery, criminal conspiracy/burglary, criminal conspiracy/criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy/theft by unlawful taking, criminal conspiracy/receiving stolen property, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy/simple assault, and criminal conspiracy/recklessly endangering another person.
His attorney, Adrianne Peters, filed a motion to reduce his bail that was discussed during motions court. She told Judge Paul E. Cherry that he is cooperating in the investigation and is not a flight risk. She noted that he has no prior criminal history.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Dobo argued that the bail was appropriate due to the seriousness of the charges. Cherry granted the motion but only lowered the bail to $50,000.
Carlson’s co-defendants, Jeanmal McPhee, 18, Wilson Ave., DuBois, and Roderick Joe Gregory Jr., 23, 254 N. Wood Ave., DuBois, face the same charges. A fourth defendant, Alexis Guerndt, 17, 2048 Green Glen Dr., DuBois, is charged with two counts of robbery as an adult for her involvement in the crime. They remain incarcerated in lieu of $100,000 bail each.
The charges stem from an incident in Sandy Township on Aug. 27 when the three men entered a residence and held a man at knifepoint before forcing him to open a safe. They escaped with money, knives and prescription drugs.
According to the affidavits of probable cause, police responded to a robbery report and spoke with the victim who thought he was going to be seriously or fatally injured during the altercation. He explained he was at his trailer when two black males and one white male entered his home. All three had knives and were wearing masks to hide their identities.
One of the actors held a knife to his throat while the other two rummaged through his possessions. They used physical force and threatened to kill him if he didn’t open his safe. After the victim opened it, they took $400 in cash, six knives, prescription drugs and two packs of cigarettes. They then fled on foot.
The victim said he thought he was set up because about half an hour prior to the men entering his property, he received a phone call from a female acquaintance, Guerndt. She asked him if he would pick her and her friend up at Snappy’s, which he did before returning to his trailer. He thought it was suspicious that the girl was texting someone while the other female stood outside the trailer. Both girls fled the scene with the three men.
While police canvassed the area, a black man and juvenile black woman dropped items and tried to hide behind a tree when the officers approached them. One of the officers found three knives lying on the ground. Both individuals, who matched the descriptions of two people involved, were detained and searched. The man, later identified as McPhee had three additional knives. Five of these six knives were later identified by the victim as the ones taken from his trailer. The sixth knife was the one they used to threaten him.
A witness told police that he and his girlfriend went with Carlson to visit with Gregory. He said McPhee, Guerndt and another juvenile girl were also at the house. McPhee and Guerndt told everyone they had a plan to set up a guy and take his drugs and money. Guerdnt’s plan was to make a sexual offering to the victim so he would take her to his trailer.
While there she would locate the drugs and money and then text message Gregory, Carlson and McPhee when they could enter. The witness said arrangements were made between Guerndt and the victim to meet at Snappy’s.
The mother of the other juvenile female provided police with text messages between Guerndt and McPhee in which they communicated and arranged for McPhee, Gregory and Carlson to enter the trailer and commit the crimes. This girl confirmed it was McPhee, Gregory and Carlson, who entered the trailer.