Cressona man nabbed for robbing Altamont, Lavelle gas stations, 6 others
CRESSONA – A Cressona man is behind bars after a string of robberies across the county in April.
State Police at Schuylkill Haven said they arrested John James Bennett Jr., 32, of Cressona in relation to nine convenience store robberies in the spring, including two in our area.
Bennett is facing a laundry list of charges for the incidents, in which he entered gas stations concealing his face with a mask and good, brandishing a firearm, and demanding cigarettes and cash.
He’s accused of doing so at the Uni-Mart in Altamont on April 20 at 5:00pm, the Turkey Hill in Lavelle on April 21 at 1:35am, and six other locations – one twice – across Schuylkill and Berks Counties between April 8 and April 27. They are:
- 4/8/2020 – 4:37am – Mobil, Cressona Borough
- 4/18/2020 – 8:15pm – Bethel Food Shop, Bethel Township, Berks County
- 4/25/2020 – 9:15pm – Mobil, Cressona Borough
- 4/26/2020 – 4:05am – Fast Fill, Schuylkill Haven
- 4/26/2020 – 6:10am – Speedway, Pine Grove Township
- 4/26/2020 – 6:55am – Auburn Food Mart, West Brunswick Township
- 4/27/2020 – 12:30pm – Power Gas and Food Mart – Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County
Bennett swiped $4,594.97 over the course of the month of April.
In addition to the robberies, Bennett is accused of fleeing troopers in a high speed chase and striking an unoccupied State Police vehicle.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Ferrier on nine counts of Felony 1 Robbery, nine counts of Felony 3 Robbery, one count of Felony 3 Receiving Stolen Property, nine counts of Misdemeanor Theft by Unlawful Taking, nine counts of Misdemeanor Terroristic Threats, nine counts of Misdemeanor Simple Assault, and nine counts of Misdemeanor Reckless Endangerment.
He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $500,000 straight cash bail.
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