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One of two suspects in a dating-app related assault, at a boat landing in Lindstrom, has entered a guilty plea to felony aiding and abetting robbery.  She will be sentenced by District Court Judge Seabrooks III, August 20.

Saia Solomon D’Silva, 20, from Farmington has tentatively agreed to conditions that will be made final at sentencing. Potential agreement is for 90 days in jail if she does not stay law abiding.  There is a condition for 160 hours of community work service.  She is to complete treatment for mental health issues and to have no contact with the victim, and not to own or possess firearms and not to use alcohol or drugs.  

D’Silva entered the plea acknowledging her involvement in luring a Lindstrom man she’d been messaging with on a dating site, to the boat landing on South Center Lake about 10 p.m. July 11, 2023.  The victim reported he arrived and the defendant, D'Silva, walked up to his vehicle and sat in the passenger seat.  The victim was immediately sprayed with pepper spray, he stated, and attacked by an alleged accomplice.  The victim was ordered to hand over his cash and the assailant showed a knife and pulled him out of the vehicle. 

When a scuffle ensued,  the victim sustained cuts and other injuries.  He told police he was ordered to take the suspects to his home, not far from the landing, to get more cash.  He said he fled and the suspects took off in their vehicle. The victim followed them in his SUV.  

The suspects raced away south on Olinda Trail and crashed at Highway 95 in Scandia.  Authorities apprehended D’Silva and the second suspect, driver 20-year- old Roman Eastin, of Woodbury.  He needed medical treatment and was briefly hospitalized.  

Eastin is scheduled for trial on assault charges July 29 before District Court Judge Dowdal.

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