Armed robbery suspects make first court appearance in La Crosse

Three men accused of committing an armed robbery in La Crosse have been given cash bonds in court. 

The suspects are identified as Taron Hill, Thaylon Boutte, and Jacorrie Benoit. Hill and Boutte are Louisiana residents, reportedly working in the Dells area for the summer, and Benoit is a Dells resident.

They allegedly robbed a fourth man at gunpoint on Tuesday inside a vehicle near the Kwik Trip at Bridgeview Plaza, and drove away, only to be captured at West Salem.  A 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol was found during the arrests.

According to a criminal complaint filed on Friday, the victim was waiting for a bus near a Rose Street motel when the three suspects drove up in an SUV. He recognized them from a previous job, and they took him to the West George Street Kwik Trip, where he withdrew money from an ATM. One of the men in the SUV had asked to borrow money.

When the man came back to the vehicle, the person who had asked for cash pointed a gun at him and demanded the ATM money, about $200. After being held up, the victim left the SUV, and the vehicle drove away.

Prosecutor Andrew Tyler says Hill has a criminal record outside Wisconsin. Judge Gloria Doyle set bond of $500 cash for all three defendants. The unnamed victim of the holdup told the judge that the men are a “danger to the public.” All three men had been released from the jail by Thursday night.