A Franklin Furnace man is behind bars today, charged in connection with the robbery and beating of another man outside Illusions Bar on Fourth Street early Sunday morning.

Ironton Police Detective Sgt. Jim Carey said Paul R. Blevins, 29, has been charged with aggravated robbery.

Just after midnight on Sunday, Ironton officers received a call that a man was lying in the parking lot of the bar, obviously the victim of an assault.

The victim was taken to Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W.Va., by ambulance, his identity not yet verified.

"The problem is, when he was assaulted, his wallet was taken," Carey said. "So he didn't have any identification on him. But we think we know that he was from Kentucky." Carey said he was not certain at this time of the victim's condition.

According to the reports, police began searching for one male and one female riding in a small red car bearing temporary tags. The car was later located by Lawrence County Sheriff's deputies on County Road 25 with only the female passenger inside at that time. Carey said a tip later led deputies to Blevins' location. He was being held at the Lawrence County Jail.