Trio arraigned in Lynn armed robbery

SALEM – Three men who allegedly pistol whipped and repeatedly kicked a 34-year-old Lynn man during a $40 holdup on High Street three months ago were arraigned Friday in Salem Superior Court.Starr Allen Johnson, 19, of 2 Kingsley Terrace, #3, Lynn, Curtis D. Stubbs, 19, of 66 Story Ave., Beverly and Joshua Q. Imadiyi, 18, of 31 Southville Court, Nashua, N.H., each pleaded innocent to armed robbery and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon before Judge John T. Lu.Stubbs remains held at the Middleton Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash while Imadiyi and Johnson each remain free on $250 cash bail, the amount previously set in Lynn District Court, with a 10 p.m. curfew.Lu also imposed the same conditions ordering them to stay away from their accuser, maintain employment or actively seek employment or attend school full time.Assistant District Attorney Christina P. Ronan argued to increase the bail for Stubbs to $10,000 and $5,000 on the other two suspects, basing her recommendation on the serious facts and nature of the case, emphasizing that it was “appropriate” in this case.The charges arise out of an incident in Lynn on the evening of Dec. 19, when the 34-year-old victim from Lynn said he was walking down High Street when four black males, all dressed in black clothing, came upon him and demanded his money.Ronan said that Stubbs allegedly pistol whipped the victim while Imadiyi repeatedly kicked him while he was on the ground while all four rummaged through his pockets, stealing his wallet, containing $40.The victim flagged down a cruiser. Police said he was bleeding from an injury to his left eye.Police spotted three suspects in a Walgreen’s parking lot on Union Street, who were later identified by the victim as his assailants.Authorities confiscated a BB gun from Stubbs, which was around his waist, and a wallet, identified later by the victim, was found near the suspect.Defense attorneys for the three argued for the same bail and conditions set earlier in Lynn District Court.The judge increased bail only on Stubbs to $5,000 after Ronan presented her version of the facts. His bail had been at $2,500, which he had not posted.All three face a potential life sentence on the armed robbery and up to 10 years in state prison on each of the assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges.They all are due back in court on April 1 for a pretrial conference.