photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Wesley James Tolbert

The U.S. Marshals Service this week apprehended the third suspect wanted in connection with an armed robbery last year in Lawrence.

The suspect, Wesley James Tolbert, 25, of Lawrence, has been charged with aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery in connection with an Oct. 13, 2021, incident in the 900 block of Arkansas Street, according to charging documents in the case.

As the Journal-World previously reported, a resident told police that three individuals approached the resident and struck the resident with a pistol, which caused a minor injury. The three individuals reportedly entered the resident’s home and stole money, then fled before police arrived.

Tolbert was apprehended around 10 a.m. Wednesday in the 1500 block of Wedgewood Drive, said George Diepenbrock, a spokesman with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. After his arrest he was taken to a local hospital and then to the Douglas County Jail, Diepenbrock said. Tolbert had complained of ankle pain after a short foot pursuit with the U.S. Marshals.

Tolbert is being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office requested the public’s help on social media in February locating Tolbert.

Tolbert was convicted in 2016 of attempted aggravated burglary and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. He was sentenced to 45 months in prison by Douglas County District Court Judge Stacey Donovan, according to court records.

Tolbert is the third suspect accused of robbing the Arkansas Street residence in October. The Journal-World previously reported the arrests of two other suspects, Casey Lamont Williams Jr., 24, and Victor Gabriel Moreno, 19, in connection with the robbery.

Moreno recently pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. He is currently in custody at the Douglas County Jail and is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Moreno has no additional criminal charges listed in Douglas County Court records.

The other man, Williams, was arrested on Oct. 14, 2021, and posted a $100,000 bond a week later but missed his court appearance on Nov. 1, prompting Judge Kay Huff to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

Williams has an extensive criminal history, including being convicted of attempted aggravated robbery, and was sentenced to 52 months by Huff in February of 2016.

Williams was scheduled to be sentenced in November after being convicted of one count of burglary of a dwelling and two counts of criminal threat stemming from an incident in August of 2019. A warrant has been issued by Huff for that case as well after he failed to appear for his sentencing date, also on Nov. 1, 2021. He had accepted a plea that recommended 31 months in prison for the charges.

photo by: Kansas inmate registry

Casey L. Williams Jr. in 2020.