Assailant pleads guilty to assault against teens

Published 2:27 pm Friday, September 7, 2012

An Austin man who chased and attacked a group of teenagers and an 18-year-old with a knife on July 10 pleaded guilty to one of four charges against him.

Mayai Arob Shaben Cobai, 23, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree assault with two or more previous convictions, a gross misdemeanor. Three other charges — second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, third-degree rioting and obstruction of legal process — were dismissed.

According to the Mower County court complaint, Cobai was at someone’s home on the 1000 block of First Avenue SW when he refused to let a victim leave the porch. One teen tried to get on his bike and leave, but Cobai reportedly wouldn’t allow him. Cobai threatened the teen and others with a knife and chased them through nearby alleys. The scuffle ended in a fight, and Cobai lost hold of the knife.

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When officers arrived, Cobai reportedly kicked, screamed and tried to grab their weapons. Officers used mace on Cobai and took him to the Mower County jail. Cobai was convicted of felony fourth-degree assault of a peace officer in April after a Star Liquor employee said Cobai stole a $13 bottle of brandy and fled. Cobai tried to punch an officer, fought with others and spit at the squad car before being placed in a spit hood and arrested in January 2012. Cobai was also convicted of terroristic threats in June 2011 when he threatened his father and an officer with a knife.