Woodland, CA – September 8, 2017 – A Yolo County Jury convicted Austin Cody Hughes and Demarco Marquis Rowe on September 5, 2017, of Robbery and Battery causing serious bodily injury as a result of a brazen daytime robbery in the City of Davis on April 20, 2017. Both Hughes, 21, and Rowe, 19, live in Dixon, CA. The jury also found that Hughes personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim and convicted Hughes of a second Robbery stemming from the violent taking of a woman’s purse as she sat in her car, which occurred later on April 20, 2017.
The events began in the City of Dixon where the defendant’s met with two others, used drugs, and then drove to Davis. Once in Davis, they drove around town for about an hour before seeing the victim, a visiting international student at UC Davis. As the victim was riding his bicycle on A Street near the intersection with Russell, the defendants exited their car, beat the victim, and stole the victim’s wallet and backpack. The victim suffered an injury to his face that required six stitches and caused the victim to be unable to see clearly for several weeks.
The defendant’s continued to drive through Davis before parking in the Target parking lot. Hughes walked to the Alhambra Apartments where several items were stolen from unlocked vehicles. Hughes then approached a parked vehicle, which was occupied by two women. Hughes opened the passenger door and attempted to take one of the women’s purse from her lap. Hughes and the victim struggled for control of the purse and Hughes shouted “Do you want to die?” The victim let go of the purse and Hughes fled the scene.
After the robberies, Davis Police Department officers noticed the defendants who were wearing masks in the area of the Motel 6 in Davis. Officers detained the defendants, investigated the crimes and arrested the defendants. Officers located the property stolen from the parked vehicles at the Motel 6 room where the defendants were staying.
The Honorable Timothy Fall presided over the trial. In a separate court trial on September 6, 2017, Judge Fall received evidence on case enhancements alleging that Rowe has a prior “strike” conviction for a Robbery in Solano County and that Hughes was out on bail at the time of the robberies in this case. Judge Fall found those case enhancements to be true.
District Attorney Jeff Reisig credited the results in the case to the outstanding investigation by the Davis Police Department. “This case came to a quick resolution due to the efforts of the Davis Police Department. Davis officers involved quickly located the suspects and collected a mountain of evidence that proved to be insurmountable.”
Both defendants will be back in court on October 19, 2017, for sentencing. Rowe faces up to 15 years in prison due to his prior conviction for robbery. Hughes faces approximately 9 years in prison.
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