A Douglas County judge on Wednesday morning ruled statements a former Sonic restaurant employee and robbery suspect made to a detective during an interview could be used at trial.

District Judge Paula Martin made the ruling after hearing testimony from Lawrence police Detective John Hanson that he talked with 23-year-old Reco Clark in his unmarked police car on June 7 in the parking lot at Sonic, 1003 N. 3rd St. Hanson said Clark was not under arrest at the time the statements were made.

Clark’s attorney, Hatem Chahine, argued Hanson should have read Clark his Miranda rights.

Nearly eight months after the Jan. 23 robbery at the restaurant, prosecutors charged Clark with one count of aggravated robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Another man, Antonio M. Douglas, was convicted of robbery after a plea in the case and sentenced to probation. Clark, a Sonic employee at the time, was initially listed as a victim in the case.

Martin has scheduled a Nov. 23 hearing in Clark’s case.