A Rochester woman threatened to kill a pregnant hotel employee and the unborn child, threw objects at her and challenged other guests to fight during a chaotic scene at a Rochester hotel, according to charges.
Lorena Coral Puente, 39, faces charges of terroristic threats, threats of violence, fifth-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
According to the complaint, officers responded to a Rochester hotel at about 9:09 p.m. on September 21 after a hotel employee reported that an intoxicated woman was attempting to assault guests and had thrown items at her. The employee told officers that Lorena Coral Puente came to the front desk asking for a room, and when told there were no vacancies, began yelling at people in the lobby and tried to bite a woman near the elevators.
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The employee said she repeatedly told Lorena Coral Puente to leave, but she refused and continued to yell at guests and the employee. The complaint states that Lorena Coral Puente screamed at the employee, who is visibly pregnant, called her names and said she hoped the baby would die.
The employee reported that Lorena Coral Puente then threatened to murder her and the baby, hit her computer and monitor and threw a receipt machine at her. The employee was able to move out of the way to avoid being struck.
The employee told officers she retreated into the office and called 911 because she feared Lorena Coral Puente would get over the counter and assault her. Officers noted the employee was shaking, crying and appeared scared during their conversation. The employee said she was afraid Lorena Coral Puente would return to harm her and the baby.
A witness in the lobby told officers he saw Lorena Coral Puente talking loudly when he arrived, and later saw her follow two women to the elevator, try to push one of them and attempt to start a fight. The witness said Lorena Coral Puente grabbed a phone from one of the women and threw it, then tried to throw a card machine at the employee while repeatedly yelling at her and making statements about the baby dying.
Another woman told officers that Lorena Coral Puente challenged her to fight, came close with her fist and made contact with her hand. The woman said Lorena Coral Puente then grabbed her phone, threatened to murder her and threw her phone. She also saw Lorena Coral Puente rip out a card reader and throw it at the employee, which would have hit her if she had not moved.
When officers spoke with Lorena Coral Puente, she claimed she was trying to get to the hospital and scare someone.
The charges include terroristic threats and threats of violence for threatening to kill the employee and the unborn child, fifth-degree assault for attempting to inflict bodily harm, and disorderly conduct for brawling and fighting in a public place.
The charges were filed Tuesday in Olmsted County District Court.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Olmsted County encompasses Rochester and is served by the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office through the Third Judicial District. Felony cases are heard at the Olmsted County Government Center in downtown Rochester.
