A 24-year-old Kissimmee man has been detained for allegedly robbing and pistol-whipping another man during a marijuana sale earlier this week.
On October 7, Osceola County Sheriff’s officers went to an allegation of an armed robbery on Scott Boulevard, where they discovered a male victim bleeding from the forehead. The victim, who speaks poor English and communicates largely in Uzbek, told investigators that he had texted a man to meet him at the Sherwood Forest clubhouse to buy marijuana, a transaction he had done several times previously.
During the meeting, the suspect allegedly pointed a revolver at the victim, demanded his money, and struck him several times with the gun before leaving on foot.
Detectives investigated the victim’s phone communications, which led them to Matthew Aurelius Maldonado, who lives nearby. According to reports, when deputies arrived at the apartment, one of the inhabitants allowed them inside, where a black Glock handgun and suspected narcotics were visible.
A search warrant for the home uncovered a second firearm—a Matrix Aerospace .300 Blackout AR pistol—as well as loaded magazines, marijuana cigarettes, THC wax packets branded with Maldonado’s name, $495 in cash, and the victim’s medical cards.
The victim later recognized Maldonado in a photo lineup as the individual who assaulted and robbed him. A criminal background check found that Maldonado is a convicted felon who is not permitted to own firearms or ammunition.
Maldonado was charged with armed robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, felony possession of a firearm, and petty theft. He is being held in the Osceola County Jail under a $6,000 bail.
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