Man, 19, pleads no contest to robbery

A 19-year-old Ottawa man pleaded no contest to attempted robbery and theft Tuesday in Douglas County District Court.

Colby Blaine Simon had originally been charged with one count of aggravated robbery, three counts of robbery and four counts of aggravated kidnapping stemming from a January robbery at an apartment in the 1700 block of West 19th Street.

Four victims in the case testified at a preliminary hearing that Simon and three other men they did not know came to their apartment early on Jan. 10 and stole several items, including marijuana, from them. One of the alleged victims said at least two of the suspects hit and kicked him as they ordered him to open a safe and give them marijuana.

Another defendant in the case, 23-year-old Ottawa man Dallas Jay Ambler, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery.

Ambler is scheduled for an Oct. 1 sentencing, and Simon is set for sentencing Oct. 30.