Man sentenced in aggravated robbery case the judge calls ‘absolutely horrific’

Composite image with background stock photo of 5th District Court and overlay photo of Michael Dean Rottmund during court appearance through Webex, St. George, Utah, March 29, 2022 | Court pool photo, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A St. George man who pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery appeared in 5th District Court for a sentencing hearing, during which the judge provided a glimpse into the defendant’s future of incarceration if he violated the terms of the agreement.

25-year-old Michael Dean Rottmund appears for sentencing hearing through Webex aggravated robbery charge from 2021, St. George, Utah, March 29, 2022 | Court pool photo, St. George News

On Tuesday, 25-year-old Michael Dean Rottmund appeared before District Judge Jeffrey C. Wilcox for sentencing on first-degree felony robbery and four misdemeanors, including one count of unlawful detention and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Rottmund was originally charged with third-degree felony unlawful detention that was downgraded to a misdemeanor, in addition to a third-degree felony charge of theft and three misdemeanor drug charges that were dismissed under the terms of the plea agreement – charges the defendant pleaded guilty to during a hearing held in January.

The case stems from an arrest a little more than a year ago that started with a 911 call reporting a robbery that took place at an apartment complex on West 360 North on the night of March 6, 2021. Officers arrived to learn a man had been held for more than five hours against his will after one of the tenants, later identified as Georgia Brook Jones, accused him of taking several thousand dollars that was missing from her home.

The man denied stealing the money and when Jones’s partner, Rottmund, returned home he confronted the man with a large knife and ordered him to first remove his clothing and then sit down and to not move. The defendant then proceeded to rummage through the man’s belongings looking for cash, gift cards, jewelry or other valuables, all of which Rottmund took from the victim.

The caller also told officers that Rottmund threatened to assault him with the knife if he attempted to make a run for it, and it was only after a family member of the caller deposited $900 in his Paypal account that he was allowed to leave – but not before the suspect threatened to shoot him if he went to police. The man left without his clothing or any other personal property and returned to his home, thus ending the five-hour ordeal.

L-R: 25-year-old Michael Dean Rottmund and 27-year-old Georgia Brook Jones, booking photos taken in Washington County, Utah, March 6, 2021 | File photos courtesy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

The defendant remained in custody without bail until April 1, 2021, when he was released into a residential treatment center for substance abuse.

Jones, Rottmund’s codefendant, was also arrested and charged with multiple offenses. She was  released into a treatment center in May of last year and was sentenced on the aggravated robbery charge three months later, while the remaining charges were dismissed in the case. The prison term of five years to life was suspended, as was the jail term off one year, and instead, she was placed on three years’ probation.

During sentencing on Tuesday, defense attorney Nathan Reeve addressed the court by saying his client had successfully completed the residential treatment program, information the attorney said he would pass on to Adult Probation and Parole for approval. Reeve also said that “sadly,” the victim in the case has since died from an overdose, which may have an affect on any restitution ordered in the case.

With that, Reeve asked the court to follow the recommendations as set forth in the presentence report. He went on to ask that his client receive credit for the time he has already served and then suspend any remaining time as imposed by the court to be held over the defendant’s head in the event he violates any of the terms of his probation.

The defendant also spoke during sentencing by saying he has completed all treatment requirements that include both residential and outpatient treatment, and since then, he said his life has been on a “really good course,” adding his children will be returning to the home to live with him shortly, and he is working full time at a glazier in St. George and is set to obtain his GED within the next three weeks.

He went on to say the incident last year was the first time he had ever been in trouble, and it will be his last, he said, adding it was a big wake up call. Since then, Rottmund said, he has been able to keep his head on straight, largely due to the many tools he was provided during treatment that have helped to change the way he handles things.

“From here on out,” he said, “I just want to be the father for my kids and a family man.”

Prosecutor Tyler Bonzo represents the state during Michael Dean Rottmund;s sentencing hearing through Webex on 2021 case, St. George, Utah, March 29, 2022 | Court pool photo, St. George News

Prosecutor Tyler Bonzo said he was in agreement with the recommendation to allow credit for time served and to suspend the remaining 240 days that would be held over the defendant’s head as he serves out his probation period, adding it was the state’s position that Rottmund needed to complete an anger management course, which the prosecutor asked that it be included in the sentence.

Bonzo went on to say he was unaware that the victim had died until it was brought up during the hearing Tuesday and requested a delay in scheduling a restitution hearing in the case to allow him time to verify the information.

Wilcox started off by saying the way in which the defendant handled the incident “was absolutely horrific,” regardless of whether the victim took the money from the defendant’s tax return or not, a claim made by the defendant early on in the case.

The judge also said he was in agreement with the recommendations as set forth in the presentence report, but reminded Rottmund that he will now have a first-degree felony on his record.

“You are a felon now,” the judge said.

Wilcox then suspended the prison term of five years in Utah State Prison on the robbery charge, as well as a year in county jail for each of the misdemeanor charges the defendant pleaded guilty to and all sentences were suspended and ordered to run concurrently if the suspension is ever lifted. He went on to say that instead of granting the defendant credit for time served, the judge suspended the entire sentence, meaning the defendant would face additional time in jail if the original sentence was imposed, which could happen if Rottmund ever violates the terms of his probation, Wilcox added.

The judge also placed the defendant on a 48-month term of probation that would be monitored by Adult Probation and Parole and ordered the defendant to complete an anger management class and to follow through with obtaining his GED, as well as other standard provisions of probation.

The judge closed by addressing the defendant, saying he hoped the defendant’s actions during the incident last year were extremely poor, “one time” decisions that were made and if not, then Rottmund would have a big target on his back, Wilcox said, as he explained what the future held for the defendant if he violated during his probation term.

“If you screw up again, the first thing that’s going to be reported is that you’ve pled guilty to a first degree felony – aggravated robbery – and you’ll be treated as a hardened criminal.”

The judge then wished the defendant the best and made one more parting statement by saying “I don’t ever want to see you in front of me again.”

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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