Trial scheduled for man charged in Fairbury McDonald's robbery

FAIRBURY, NE — One of the two men charged in the robbery of the now former McDonald's in Fairbury is heading to trial. 

According to court records, 35-year-old Marzeanis Coleman will be tried on multiple felonies related to the robbery of the fast food restaurant in April 2022. 

His trial is scheduled to begin May 16. A pre-trial hearing is on the calendar for April 13. That's also the deadline for Coleman to enter a plea. 

According to the arrest affidavit, authorities accuse Coleman of robbery, assault and fleeing the scene in the case. 

Authorities say the incident happened late at night after McDonald's had closed for the night. An employee called 911 to report an assault on a coworker and the robbery. 

Police say they saw two men running from McDonald's who got in a car and led authorities on a high-speed chase that reached speeds near 125 miles-per-hour before it came to an in west Beatrice when they crashed. 

After a search, police located and arrested Coleman. 

Coleman is charged with four felonies: Robbery, 1st degree assault, Possession or receipt of a stolen firearm, flight to avoid arrest and a misdemeanor charge of willful reckless driving.

About two months later in June 2022, a second man, Michall Gillians, was arrested in Lincoln on a felony robbery charge related to the case. Gillians has pleaded not guilty. No trial has been scheduled yet for him. 

Due to reasons unrelated to this incident, the McDonald's restaurant in Fairbury closed at the end of August 2022.