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Follow on Google News |  Gladwin robbery suspect's death hoax prompts man to raise money for gun shop assault victimBig Johns Promotions and Warrior Management Team up to make this happen
By: M Live on March 27, 2013 at 11:33 AM, updated March 27, 2013 at 11:34 AM Richard Robinette was hospitalized at Hurley Medical Center after being assaulted during a robbery at his Sage Township gun shop on March 18, 2013. Courtesy | The Robinette Family GLADWIN COUNTY, MI — When John Yeubanks heard about a violent robbery that took place at a Sage Township gun shop, earlier this month, he was shocked in more than one way. Three suspects, including Charles Rowan, have been arrested in the March 18 incident at Guns and Stuff (http://www.mlive.com/ "We actually did a fundraiser for Charles Rowan, thinking he had passed away," said Yeubanks, the owner of Big John's Mixed Martial Arts, 706 S. Center, in Gaylord. Yeubanks said Rowan had participated in an MMA event with his organization in the past, and when a group of people identifying themselves as friends of family members of Rowan came to him with a tragic story of a fatal car accident, Yeubanks agreed to help put on a fundraiser to help pay for Rowan's final expenses. According to Yeubanks, around $1,000 was raised during the fundraiser, which was held in Midland. A similar fundraiser was held for Rowan in Traverse City, where organizers also believed he had died (http://www.mlive.com/ Yeubanks said he believes Rosalinda Martinez and Michael Bowman, who were also arrested in connection with the gun shop robbery, were two of the individuals who helped perpetrate the death hoax. "They took advantage of us," said Yeubanks. "We thought that Charles had passed away until we seen the mugshots on TV in regards to this robbery against Mr. Robinette." Yeubanks said he felt "sick" after realizing that Rowan faked his death to collect money, explaining that he didn't look too far into Rowan's death but never would have thought he had to. "We never would have seen that coming," he said. "All we wanted to do was help people out." "When you have a crying family in front of you, it's hard to say 'Well I don't believe you,'" Yeubanks said. "These people were good actors. They cried on cue. You mentioned Charles' name and they cried." Though Rowan had occasionally participated in mixed martial arts events around the state, Yeubanks said he was not a trained martial artist. "We really didn't want Charles Rowan to be a representation of the mixed martial arts community in Michigan, because we are way better than that guy," he said. Seeing Rowan's face on TV, in connection with the robbery, led Yeubanks to want to help the store's owner, Richard Robinette. "He's the real victim," Yeubanks said of Robinette. "We got robbed but he really got robbed." Yeubanks reached out to Robinette's family and asked for permission to start a page on the online fundraising site GoFundMe, with all the proceeds going to help the Robinette family pay for medical bills associated with the incident. "They were very gracious and very overwhelmed by it, you know, to the point of tears," Yeubanks said. The online fundraiser started during the late night hours of Monday, March 25 (http://www.mlive.com/ Donors, both anonymous and named, contributed donations ranging from as little as a few dollars, to as much as a few hundred dollars. Though the goal has been exceeded, the fundraiser continues. Yeubanks said the money will go directly to Robinette's wife, who has a pin number to access the account. "It's amazing the outpouring of help and support we've gotten," said Yeubanks. Yeubanks said he wants people to know that the MMA community is family oriented and focuses on respect. "Mixed martial artists are good people. We're not Charles Rowan. We don't go out and rob people or try to portray ourselves as thugs." With a wife and two kids, Yeubanks said his main goal is to be a role model. "Charles Rowan is the furthest thing from what the mixed martial arts community is, here in Michigan, and really around the world," he said. Yeubanks explained that now Robinette is a part of that community. "Your dad's a fighter," Yeubanks said he told Robinette's son, Josh Robinette. "We've kind of adopted him and we take care of our own." "That could have been anybody. That could have been anybody's grandfather, father, brother, uncle," said Yeubanks. "If it can happen in Gladwin, Michigan, it can happen anywhere." According to Yeubanks, Robinette's story especially touched him when he thought of his own grandfather. "I can't imagine if someone attacked my grandfather with a hammer," Yeubanks said. Robinette was on life support at Flint's Hurley Medical Center, after the attack, but has since started recovering from the injuries. "He's doing a lot better, but he's still got a long road to go," Yeubanks said. The mixed martial artist and business owner plans to continue raising funds for Richard Robinette and his family, explaining that he plans to conduct raffles at some upcoming MMA events. Yeubanks goal is to reach the $10,000 mark, in total. End
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