SOMERS, Wis. — A man and woman were both charged Thursday after what investigators describe as an armed robbery linked to prostitution at the White Brick Motel in Somers. According to sheriff’s deputies, the victim paid for sex arranged online but ended up being threatened at knifepoint and robbed of his cell phone.

According to the criminal complaint, Jesus A. Puente, 36, of Kenosha, was charged with armed robbery with use of force, battery, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct while using a dangerous weapon, and attempted possession of methamphetamine. Puente appeared in intake court Thursday, where Court Commissioner William Michel II ordered a $25,000 cash bail.

Deputies were dispatched to the White Brick Motel, 973 Sheridan Road, shortly after 9 p.m. on November 4 for what dispatchers described as a “trouble unknown” call. A man told investigators that he had arranged to meet a woman through an escort website for sexual services and agreed to pay her $100. The woman allegedly met him in a motel room, but a short time later, a Hispanic man burst in, yelled “What are you doing here?” and waved a folding knife while ordering him to leave.

The victim said he hurried to get dressed, but when he called 911, the man punched the phone out of his hand, took it, and fled with the woman. The stolen phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus valued at about $190, was never recovered. Deputies identified the woman as Erin M. Smith, 35, of Kenosha, after motel staff recognized her and confirmed she was staying in Room 17 with Puente.

During an Act 79 search of the motel room, deputies found two glass pipes with burnt residue, a syringe, a small amount of cocaine, and 26 grams of crystal methamphetamine inside a refrigerator. Deputies also found a syringe containing a red and amber liquid. Smith later admitted to deputies that she liquefied and injected meth and said both she and Puente had used it that night. She also admitted to planning to distribute meth to acquaintances.

Smith, described in the complaint as an alleged prostitute, faces felony and misdemeanor charges including prostitution, possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine as a repeater, possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct while using a dangerous weapon as a party to a crime. She was given a $10,000 cash bail.

If convicted on all counts, Puente faces up to 50 years in prison, and Smith faces up to 29 years due to her repeat drug offender status.

Both defendants are scheduled to return to court November 20 for preliminary hearings.

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