Executive Summary
- Eduardo Rueda Jr. sentenced to five years, with three suspended, for the 2023 robbery of a juvenile.
- The incident involved the theft of a PlayStation 5 at gunpoint during a arranged sale in Goshen.
- Co-defendant Jonathan Martinez was previously sentenced to 12 years for his role in the armed robbery.
- Police used Flock camera footage and digital evidence from Rueda’s phone to link the suspects to the crime.
An Elkhart man has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to a robbery charge stemming from a 2023 incident involving the theft of a gaming console from a juvenile. Eduardo Rueda Jr., 19, received the sentence in Elkhart County court, with three years suspended to probation, following a plea agreement entered in November.
According to court records, Rueda pleaded guilty to robbery as a Level 5 felony, a reduction from the original charge of armed robbery as a Level 3 felony. The charges originated from an incident on February 2, 2023, at the Twin Pines mobile home community in Goshen. Police reports state that a 16-year-old victim had arranged to sell a PlayStation 5 video game console to Rueda.
Investigators detailed that during the attempted transaction, a male wearing a ski mask appeared at the residence. This individual, identified by authorities as 22-year-old Jonathan Martinez, pointed a firearm at the juvenile and seized the console before fleeing the scene in a white pickup truck. Law enforcement officials utilized Flock license plate reader camera footage to trace the vehicle back to Martinez.
Further evidence cited by prosecutors included data retrieved from Rueda’s mobile phone. Investigators stated they discovered messages and videos referencing the robbery, along with a photograph taken inside the getaway vehicle depicting both a firearm and the stolen PlayStation. Martinez previously pleaded guilty to the original Level 3 felony charge of armed robbery in May 2024 and received a 12-year sentence, with five years suspended to probation.
During Rueda’s sentencing hearing, defense attorney Mark Doty requested a sentence excluding prison time, emphasizing the defendant’s strong family support and his ambition to own a barbershop. Rueda addressed the court, offering apologies to the victim and acknowledging the dangerous nature of the event. “I’m sorry for what I did and caused, the trauma, stress, anger, fear and worry to the victim and his family,” Rueda stated.
Judicial Resolution and Public Safety Context
The sentencing of Rueda marks the conclusion of legal proceedings regarding this violent interaction, which underscores the inherent risks of person-to-person sales arranged via online platforms. The use of a firearm in the robbery of a minor escalated the severity of the judicial response, resulting in felony convictions for both defendants. While these specific proceedings have concluded with guilty pleas, it is important to note that in the broader criminal justice system, all individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
