George man pleads not guilty to robbery

A George man pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Grant County Superior Court to first-degree robbery.

Efrain Tafolla, 24, was arrested early May 7, after Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the Quincy Valley Medical Center for an apparent robbery victim, records stated.

The 20-year-old man had dried blood on his face, his eyes were swollen and he was lying on a hospital bed. He told deputies he and Tafolla were coworkers and got tacos the night before in Quincy, then went to George to pick up three of Tafolla’s Hispanic friends.

The man said he was riding in the front passenger seat on the drive back to Quincy when the three men sitting behind him punched him multiple times in the face. Tafolla stopped the car on the side of the road, the man said, adding he couldn’t remember where.

Tafolla and the three men allegedly kicked the victim all over his body and took his cell phone and wallet, records stated. The man said the next thing he remembered was walking near the IGA Quincy Market and eventually to his home in Quincy. His roommate immediately took him to the hospital.

Deputies seized the Kia Sportage Tafolla was apparently driving during the robbery at his home in George, after noticing blood inside of it and obtaining a warrant. They also allegedly found clothes with blood on them, records stated.

Tafolla’s trial is tentatively scheduled for July 14. As of Thursday, he remained in the Grant County Jail.