Man pleads to conspiracy to commit armed robbery

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

Hendrickson

LUDINGTON — A 31-year-old man pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit armed robbery and fourth-offense habitual offender in Mason County’s 51 Circuit Court Thursday, March 12. 

Tyler Austin Hendrickson conspired with Travis William Malone, 31, to commit the armed robbery, said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth Hand. Malone had also conspired with Rob Roger Smith, 33, to invade a Ludington home.

“Malone and Rob Smith had conspired to break into a house of a mutual friend,” said Prosecutor Hand. “While Malone was with the victim, he let Smith know the house was empty. Smith then breaks into the home and steals various items including a gaming system of the victim’s child. Upon learning this, the victim relays the information to Hendrickson. The victim was in contact with the police. Malone had allegedly already sold the gaming system to a third party. 

Malone

“Hendrickson and Malone devise a plan to get the gaming system back by robbing at gunpoint the new owner of the system. The victim relays all of this to the police as well as when the robbery was to occur. The police are in the area ready to intervene and upon information and belief, the suspects see a police car and abort the robbery. Malone and Smith are pulled over shortly thereafter and Malone has a firearm in his possession.”

The Sept. 4, 2024 crime was investigated by the Ludington Police Department, according to court records.

Smith

Malone pleaded no contest Dec. 5, 2025 to conspiracy to commit armed robbery, second-degree home invasion, conspiracy to commit second-degree home invasion and third-offense habitual offender. He is scheduled for sentencing April 21.

Smith was sentenced to five to 40 years in prison, July 1, 2025 after pleading guilty to second-degree home invasion, conspiracy to commit second-degree home invasion and fourth-offense habitual offender. 

Hendrickson is set for sentencing on May 12 at 9:10 a.m. 

Malone has an additional pending charge of delivery/manufacture of methamphetamine. That case is set for a jury trial May 6-8.

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