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Zorrell West and Alexis Kott

(Courtesy of WCSO)

ANN ARBOR, MI -- A man and woman accused of robbing an Ann Arbor Qdoba, along with a third suspect, pleaded guilty to violating conditions of their bonds when they appeared in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Monday, April 3.

Nineteen-year-old Alexis N. Kott of Ann Arbor and 18-year-old Zorrell D. West of Ypsilanti weren't supposed to see each other while free on bond pending trial in their cases.

Both were arraigned on bench warrants for violating that condition March 31. Discussion in open court Monday revealed Kott and West were caught together in a car with a mutual friend.

"We were just hanging out," West told Judge Swartz. "We were together for an hour."

Kott's attorney, Ann Arbor-based Dan Geherin, told Judge David Swartz the two were dating before they were charged in connection with the Qdoba robbery, but now can't be together because of the bond conditions.

Swartz released Kott from the Washtenaw County Jail on a tether pending trial after Geherin argued that she had no prior criminal record. The judge wasn't as lenient with West, who faces more charges than Kott and had unrelated pending criminal case, setting a $20,000 case or surety bond.

Kott faces one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

John Al-Fadhili

West and a third suspect, 18-year-old John Al-Fadhili of Westland, each face two counts of armed robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

Records show West had a personal recognizance bond in a separate case where he is charged with larceny from a person and two counts of stealing a financial transaction device.

Kott was an employee at the restaurant at the time and is accused of helping Al-Fadhili and West plan and carrying out the robbery, police have said.

At about 10:45 p.m. July 8 at Qdoba Mexican Grill, 2252 S. Main St., employees were finishing their shifts after the store was closed when two suspects entered and ordered two employees into a rear storage room, according to police.

The suspects hinted they had a handgun, ordered the restaurant manager to open the safe, took an undetermined amount of money and then fled on foot, police said. There were no injuries.

West, Kott and Al-Fadhili are due back in court for a pretrial hearing April 17.