ATHENS - Two men were arrested Thursday in connection with several robberies in the Athens County area, an official said.
James Whiteman, 30, of The Plains, and James R. Geer, 26, of Millfield, were each charged with aggravated robbery by the Athens County Sheriff's Office. Additional charges of aggravated robbery are expected to be filed by the Athens Police Department, said Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly.
Search warrants were executed Thursday on a Carol Lane residence in The Plains, a residence on Liars Corner in Millfield and the Perform Best Fitness on Columbus Road in Athens. Among the items recovered was a black painted BB gun allegedly used by the suspects while robbing Guysville Marathon Convenience Store in July, officials said.
The suspects allegedly confessed to the armed robbery of the Richland Avenue Speedway in July, the armed robbery of Chauncey Marathon in April, a breaking and entering at Maplewood Inn in Athens, and the robbery of T's Quick Stop in Chauncey, police said.
Additional charges are expected at the next grand jury, said Kelly.
Whiteman and Geer were transported to the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail.
