Five charged in convenience store robberies

Five men were charged Monday with the robberies of three Lawrence convenience stores.

The men, all of Lawrence, were arrested Saturday at five different locations and were charged Monday in Douglas County District Court.

The robberies occurred at 1:30 a.m. April 27 at Kwik Shop, 3440 W. Sixth St.; at 4 a.m. April 27 at Total, 501 W. Ninth St.; and at 11:30 p.m. May 2 at Kwik Shop, 845 Miss.

In the first two robberies, police said a man wearing jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt demanded money from the cashiers. One witness said he thought he saw the barrel of a gun from beneath the man’s sweatshirt.

Two men entered the Kwik Shop in the third robbery, though police said one of the men matched the description of the man in the first two robberies.

Charged on Monday were:

 Justin L. Nichols, 19, with three counts of aggravated robbery. His bond was set at $50,000.

 Justin Countess, 20, with one count of aggravated robbery in connection with the May 2 robbery. His bond was set at $40,000.

 Michael E. Ashcraft, 31, with one count of aiding and abetting aggravated robbery in connection with the May 2 robbery. His bond was set at $50,000.

 Christopher J. Berry, 18, with two counts of aiding and abetting aggravated robbery in connection with the April 27 incidents. His bond was set at $40,000.

 Thomas R. Dolan III, 27, with one count of aiding and abetting aggravated robbery in connection with one of the April 27 robberies. His bond was set at $45,000.

Each of the suspects received different court-appointed attorneys. Their next court appearances will be at 2 p.m. Thursday.