Willmar man sentenced to prison time in kidnapping, robbery case
WILLMAR -- Ricardo Cadena, 24, of Willmar, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison on two charges stemming from a May 21 incident that involved kidnapping a teenager and stealing his car from the McDonald's parking lot.
The sentence was handed down in Kandiyohi County District Court by Judge Michael J. Thompson for first-degree aggravated robbery and kidnapping.
Cadena was given credit for 145 days already served in jail and ordered to pay $280 in fines and court fees.
The sentence was a downward departure from state sentencing guidelines, under which Cadena could have been sentenced to 48 months in prison. Cadena's attorney, Alberto O. Miera, made a motion for the departure on Oct. 7.
Cadena was found guilty of five of six felony charges in the case during a jury trial in July. He was not sentenced on three other charges, including false imprisonment, simple robbery and motor vehicle theft.
Cadena and Danny Duron Jr., now 18, of Willmar, were each charged with six counts after the May incident. Duron has pleaded guilty to felony charges of false imprisonment and simple robbery and will be sentenced Oct. 27. He had also been charged with kidnapping, aggravated robbery, motor vehicle theft and third-degree riot, a gross misdemeanor.
The case also involved two other juvenile boys; however, their cases are not part of the public record. Cases involving felony charges against 16- or 17-year-olds are public.
The charges in the cases were filed after multiple Willmar police officers were called around 11:20 p.m. May 21 to a fight in progress at the Willmar McDonald's parking lot. Officers were advised that a person involved had a handgun and the suspects were leaving the location.
Officers stopped a vehicle along First Street and Trott Avenue and identified Duron, Cadena, a 15-year-old and the victim, who was a passenger. A handgun, determined to be a carbon-dioxide-powered pistol, was found under the front passenger seat. Witnesses told police the incident stemmed from the allegation that the victim had started their sister's hair on fire.
