Alleged Vulcan Village robbers, accomplice appear in court
Two men accused of robbing a man outside Vulcan Village in California in late February and the girlfriend of one were in court Monday for preliminary hearing before District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
Darius Ryan, 19, of Pittsburgh, and Jordan Nicole Cornell, 18, also of Pittsburgh, waived their respective cases to court. Branden Washington, 20, also of Pittsburgh, was ordered held for court.
Ryan and Washington are charged with armed robbery, unlawful restraint, theft and conspiracy for allegedly robbing a man outside Vulcan Village at gunpoint on Feb. 29. Rain is also charged with possession of marijuana. Cornell, identified by California police as Washington’s girlfriend, is charged with robbery, conspiracy, hindering apprehension, and obstructing law enforcement.
Cornell is accused of calling the alleged victim and luring him to Vulcan Village so that Washington and Rain could rob him, police said. The man told police that the two forced him from one building to another. They allegedly stole his car keys before he was able to escape after having a gun pointed at his head.
Ryan was found hiding in a bathroom at Washington’s Vulcan Village apartment several hours after the reported robbery. Cornell is accused of lying to police when they asked her about eight hours after the robbery if Washington was in the apartment. Police entered and found him hiding under a bed.
Ryan and Washington remain in Washington County Jail. Washington is also facing theft-related charges stemming from incidents at the university. Cornell is free on $25,000 unsecured bond.
They are scheduled for a formal arraignment May 26.