The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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July 13, 2012

Second defendant pleads guilty in robbery at Joplin motel

By Jeff Lehr news@joplinglobe.com

JOPLIN, Mo. — A second defendant pleaded guilty Friday to his role in the stabbing and robbing of a man less than a year ago at the Plaza Motel in Joplin.

Kyle Bruin, 24, of Joplin, pleaded guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court to a reduced charge of second-degree robbery in a plea deal with the prosecutor’s office that would limit the prison time he might be assessed to seven years. The deal would also dismiss a second count he was facing for armed criminal action.

Circuit Judge David Mouton delayed formal acceptance or rejection of the plea agreement and ordered the completion of a sentencing-assessment report on the defendant.

Bruin is accused of accompanying Amanda K. Selby, 24, and Wayne Tidd, 23, to the motel at 2612 E. Seventh St. on Sept. 9, 2011, and robbing Jose Lopez-Sandoval, 54.

A probable-cause affidavit alleges that they planned the robbery inside an apartment at 901 S. Roosevelt Ave. and took a taxi together to the motel. The document states that Bruin provided Selby with a pocketknife she used in the robbery.

Police say Selby knocked on the door of Lopez-Sandoval’s room and asked to use his shower while Bruin and Tidd stayed out of sight in the parking lot of the motel. Not long after he let her into the room, Selby attacked Lopez-Sandoval with the knife, cutting him multiple times on his face and neck. She then took the victim’s cellphone and cash and fled with Bruin and Tidd, according to the affidavit.

Lopez-Sandoval’s injuries were described at the time as not life-threatening, although he did require emergency surgery.

Selby pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery in June in a plea deal that would limit her sentence to 10 years. She is to be sentenced Aug. 20. Tidd has pleaded not guilty and has tentative trial dates set for September.





Hearing

The judge set Kyle Bruin’s sentencing hearing for Sept. 21.

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