Northwood man pleads not guilty to Mason City burglary, robbery

MASON CITY — A Northwood man has pleaded not guilty to burglary and robbery charges after an incident in Mason City in September.

A criminal complaint filed in Cerro Gordo County District Court accuses 25-year-old Jose Martinez of entering an unlocked apartment in the zero block of 9th Street Northeast on the afternoon of September 7th without permission or consent. Martinez allegedly stood over the occupant of the apartment while he was sleeping, holding a handgun that was later determined to be fake, in an attempt to intimidate the victim. Martinez then took money and fled from the apartment.

Martinez was later arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, as well as second-degree robbery, a Class C felony.

He pleaded not guilty during an arraignment hearing held on Monday in Cerro Gordo County District Court. District Judge Rustin Davenport scheduled Martinez’s trial to start on November 18th. He remains in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $10,000 bond.