A 19-year-old man reportedly told police he robbed a Rice Lake bank to get money to pay off court obligations so he wouldn't go to jail, according to Eau Claire County Court records.
Jesse G. Sweeter, 19, [...] was arrested July 16 after law enforcement officers responding to an armed robbery at Sterling Bank in Rice Lake saw him running and stopped him.
Sweeter had a bag that contained money and a handgun.
Two other men living at the same address - Kyle W. Langner, 22, and Ricky D. White, 25 - also were arrested that day.
Langner is the first of the three to be charged in connection with the armed robberies of three Eau Claire convenience stores.
On Monday, he made his initial appearance [...] on three felony counts of party to the crime of armed robbery. His bail was set at $50,000 cash, [...] ordered not to have contact with Sweeter, White, the clerks at the convenience stores that were robbed or any Eau Claire County convenience store or gas station. [...]
According to court records:
After being arrested in Rice Lake, Sweeter told authorities he was solely responsible for that robbery [...] the motive was to get money to pay off court obligations in lieu of returning to jail.
[...] he, Langner and White were responsible for robbing two convenience stores in Eau Claire on the same night - July 2. The Holiday Gas Station [...] was robbed at 10:57 p.m., and the Mega Holiday, [...] was robbed at 11:51 p.m.
Sweeter admitted he was the one who went into the first store, where he took $457 from the clerk at gunpoint. He said White robbed the second store, where the clerk told police the robber displayed a handgun and pointed it at her before making off with more than $100.
[...] wasn't involved in the third armed robbery in Eau Claire, which occurred at 9:14 p.m. July 11 at a second Mega Holiday, [...] because he was in jail.
When Sweeter got out, he spoke to Langner and White and said he was told they were responsible. A clerk told police the robber made off with about $193.
Charges haven't been filed in Eau Claire County against Sweeter or White in connection with the convenience store robberies.
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