Bemidji Man Charged in $1,600 Motel Robbery

BEMIDJI, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — Lorenzo Dean Valencia faces a felony simple robbery charge in Beltrami County.

The charge stems from an alleged incident on December 22, 2025. Court records say it happened outside the Super 8 motel in Bemidji.

Valencia, 36, was charged in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District Court. The case number is 04-CR-26-1190.

Woman Reports Push and Cash Theft

According to the complaint, a woman told police that Valencia pushed her during an argument. She said he then took $1,600 from her purse.

The woman said her two teenage daughters witnessed the incident. The complaint identifies the woman and the girls only by initials.

Investigators said the argument began inside the woman’s vehicle. The pair then stepped outside to avoid arguing near the children.

The woman alleged Valencia used both hands to push her backward. She fell to the ground, according to the complaint.

Her daughters then left the vehicle and helped her stand. One daughter gave police a similar account.

The daughter said Valencia returned to the vehicle after the push. She alleged he removed cash from the woman’s purse.

The complaint says Valencia then ran from the motel parking lot. Police later received documents related to the woman’s finances.

Those records included a December 15 check receipt for $10,000. The receipt described the money as proceeds from a home sale.

Police also received a document tied to Valencia’s earlier bond. The complaint says the unpaid balance was $6,200.

Simple robbery is charged under Minnesota Statute 609.24.

A conviction can bring up to 10 years in prison. It can also bring a fine of up to $20,000.

The complaint also lists prior convictions and pending cases involving Valencia. Those matters are separate from the new allegation.

More court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch case records portal.

Valencia is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.