Second man faces charges in home invasion robbery

A second man accused of taking part in an armed home invasion robbery in Superior last summer made an initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court on Friday.

Donald Lee Battle, 25, of Duluth faces felony armed burglary and armed burglary with use of force as a party to a crime.

The complaint filed Friday was based in part on a statement made by Trent William Anderson, 21, of Superior. Anderson pleaded no contest Feb. 8 to felony theft and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges stemming from the July 22 home invasion in the 1100 block of Hughitt Avenue. As part of a deferred sentence agreement on the felony count, Anderson was ordered to provide a truthful, detailed statement regarding the gunman/accomplice in the case.

According to the criminal complaint:

Anderson said Battle had called him up a few days prior to the incident to ask if he would help with a robbery. Three people were in the residence when Anderson and Battle knocked on the back door. When the people inside opened the door, the two men rushed into their home.

Anderson pushed the female into the bedroom and closed the door. Two males victims were ordered to the floor and at least one had a gun held to their head by Battle. Various personal items were removed from the victims including a wallet, cell phones, identification cards and car keys. Anderson and Battle then left the residence and opened the door of one of the victim’s vehicles to look for more things to steal. The car alarm went off and the suspects fled.

When he was arrested Thursday, Battle denied any involvement in the robbery. He told Superior Police Detective Joe Krieg: “Well I guess Trent threw me under the bus. Now I know why he is out of jail.”

Battle remained in custody at the Douglas County Jail on Monday. Cash bond of $10,000 was set for the Duluth man. He was ordered to have no contact with the victims and not possess or use dangerous weapons.

Tags: crime and courts, news, superior