Teen's prison sentence upheld in 'lumber-bat' robbery scheme: 'Poor criminal conduct'

A teenager who lured men to motels using fake offers of paid dates with a minor and then robbed and assaulted them — a scheme known as "lumber-bat robbery" — has had his prison sentence upheld on appeal.

The Suwon High Court's Third Criminal Division, presided over by judges Jo Hyo-jeong, Go Seok-beom and Choi Ji-won, dismissed the defendant's appeal and upheld the original sentence of a maximum three years and minimum two years in a juvenile detention facility. The defendant, identified only as A, had been indicted on charges including aggravated robbery causing injury, preparation for robbery, special theft and property destruction.

A and his accomplices were charged after luring men to motels in Icheon and Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in around June last year. The men had responded to "paid date" posts the group placed on social media, apparently seeking to solicit sex.

The group's method involved sending a minor into a motel room with the target. While the man showered, the minor would unlock the door, allowing A and others waiting outside to burst in and carry out the assault.

During the attacks, the group threatened the victims, beat them with fists and feet and burned them with cigarettes, forcing them to transfer several million won to bank accounts. They also face charges of destroying 870,000 won ($560) worth of property, including a television provided by the motel.

The court said A and his group had lured men seeking to pay for sex with a minor and then robbed or attempted to rob them, calling the conduct "poor in criminal quality." It added that A's role in the offenses was "by no means light," citing his active use of physical force against the victims. The court acknowledged that A had been a juvenile at the time of the crimes and had not yet reached full maturity, but said those factors did not make the original sentence unduly harsh given the extent of his involvement, his role and the harm caused.

A was a high school student at the time of the offenses. Because he was 14 or older, he did not qualify as a juvenile under criminal age and was therefore subject to criminal punishment.