Man gets 15 years for bank robberies

Published 10:32 am Thursday, September 22, 2016

A South Point man who robbed two local banks was sentenced to prison on Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Michael Crager, 37, of 103 Solida Road, pleaded guilty to two first-degree counts of aggravated robbery and two third-degree counts of tampering with evidence.

Due to the man’s prior felony criminal history, prosecuting attorney Brigham Anderson recommended a 15-year prison sentence, which he said was a negotiated plea deal.

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Judge Charles Cooper sentenced the man to 15 years in prison and ordered him to pay restitution of $2,350 to WesBanco and $12,000 to PNC.
Crager robbed the WesBanco in South Point on June 23 and the PNC in Ironton on Aug. 16. He was arrested on Aug. 17 by the Ironton Police Department.

In other cases:

• Robert Hoke, 24, of 85 Township Road 1013, South Point, was sentenced to three years in prison and restitution of $500. He previously pleaded guilty to a third-degree count of burglary.

• Wesley Plumley, 24, of 114 Meadows Court, Beckley, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree complicity to breaking and entering and misdemeanor theft. Cooper sentenced the man to seven months in prison and $300 restitution.

•John Browning, 35, of 751 State Route 522, Pedro, admitted community control sanctions violations and was sentenced to 24 months in prison.

• Zachary Corn, 23, of 1308 S. First St., Ironton, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to 22 months in prison.

• Rickey Fraley, 47, of 3086 State Route 160, Gallipolis, was sentenced to four years in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to a count of second-degree burglary.

• Whittany Taylor, 29, of 125 Township Road 1161 Lot 16C, Proctorville, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. Cooper sentenced the woman to 180 days in jail, suspended, three years probation and outpatient treatment.

• Michael Wikoff, 37, of 1141 County Road 105, Kitts Hill, pleaded guilty to first-degree felonious assault, third-degree failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and a fifth-degree and misdemeanor count of theft. Cooper set sentencing for Oct. 5.

• Jonathon Eden, 42, of 84 Private Drive 8047, Proctorville, was sentenced to four years CCS under intensive supervised probation, STAR and restitution of $275 and $70. He previously pleaded guilty to fifth-degree counts of breaking and entering and theft from a person in a protected class.

• Joshua Folden, 27, of 1319 Park St. Apt. 1, Huntington, was sentenced to four years CCS/ISP, 200 hours community service and restitution of $9,999 to US Bank. He previously pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree count of grand theft.

• Andrew McClain, 28, of 1012 S. Fifth St., Ironton, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

• Richard Young Jr., 32, of 2214 Davis Road, Crown City, pleaded guilty to counts of third-degree having weapons under a disability and misdemeanor aggravated menacing.
Retired judge Richard Walton sentenced the man to four years CCS/ISP and treatment at New Beginnings and Mended Reeds.

• Charles Johnson II, 27, of 56 County Road 57, South Point, pleaded guilty to four fourth-degree counts of trafficking in heroin. Walton set sentencing for Sept. 28.

• Betty Dement, 47, of 51 Township Road 1231, Proctorville, pleaded guilty to a third-degree count of tampering with evidence. Walton sentenced the woman to four years CCS/ISP STAR and 200 hours community service.

• Paul Baldwin, 31, of 100 Hogsett Hollow, Ironton, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree and a misdemeanor count of public indecency. Walton sentenced the man to 60 days in jail, four years CCS/ISP, 200 hours community service and STAR.

• Scott Wilson, 46, of 306 Washington St., Coal Grove, was sentenced to four years CCS/ISP, STAR and 200 hours community service. He previously pleaded guilty to three fourth-degree counts of trafficking in heroin.

• James Stevens, 33, of 1625 County Road 128, Ironton, pleaded guilty to two fourth- and two third-degree counts of trafficking in heroin and a third-degree count of trafficking in drugs. The man also admitted CCS violations.
Walton sentenced the man to 36 months in prison.