Lynn pair charged in armed robbery

LYNN – A judge ordered $10,000 and $7,500 cash bail for two young city men who were part of a group that allegedly beat and tried to rob a man in Austin Square Friday night. Both defendants were also ordered held without bail for allegedly violating probation.Giovanni Buchanan, 19, of 80 Sagamore St. #206, was arrested and charged with armed robbery; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, shod foot; disorderly conduct; and trespassing; at 12:36 a.m. Saturday.Joshua Smith, 20, of 812 Boston St., was arrested and charged with armed robbery; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, shod foot; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a 40-ounce bottle of Natural Ice; trespassing; disorderly conduct; resisting arrest; and violation of a city knife violation.A 17-year-old juvenile was arrested and charged with armed robbery; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a shod foot; disorderly conduct; trespassing; and violation of an open-container ordinance.Buchanan and Smith each pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday in Lynn District Court.Police reported responding to the 7-Eleven in Austin Square at 11:41 p.m. Friday on the report of a robbery involving five young men, Lynn Police Officer Taylor Kulakowski wrote in a report. A woman at the scene identified a group in the parking lot as the parties involved, and officers said four young men began running away as police arrived.The alleged victim, a 43-year-old city man, told police he was heading home when he stopped to send a text, according to court documents.The alleged victim told police five youths approached and began talking with him. Then one youth hit him with a 40-ounce bottle of beer, the alleged victim said. The group then allegedly began kicking the man as he fell to the ground and trying to rob him.Responding officers found Smith, Buchanan and the juvenile at different locations in the neighborhood, and the alleged victim positively identified all three, police reported. Police noted Smith appeared drunk, resisted arrest and had a knife, while the juvenile had a Fireball cinnamon whiskey bottle in his hoodie.Judge James LaMothe ordered Buchanan held on $7,500 cash bail and Smith held on $10,000 cash bail. LaMothe also ordered each defendant held for an alleged violation of probation.The defendants are scheduled to return to Lynn District Court Sept. 25.The juvenile was expected to be arraigned in juvenile court, and police reported the other suspects were not found.