The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Police/Courts

June 29, 2009

Greenbrier man jailed on robbery charge

By Amelia A. Pridemore

A Greenbrier County man is in jail after deputies say he attacked and robbed an elderly man in the alleged victim’s home after the man let him come inside to make a phone call.

Steven Lee Johnson, 31, of Rupert, is charged with first-degree robbery, according to a release from the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department. Johnson was arrested Monday, and he is being held in Southern Regional Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.

Around 10:30 p.m. May 20, the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 robbery call on Kenney Mountain Road in the Grassy Meadows area, the release stated. Deputies were told an unknown man knocked on the victim’s door, saying he had car trouble. The man asked the victim, a man in his 80s, to use the phone.

The suspect pretended he was going to make that call, but struck the victim with the phone receiver, Deputy R.D. Baker said. The suspect stole cash and a checkbook before fleeing.

The victim sustained minor injuries, Baker said.

Deputies received a break June 16, when they found out two of the stolen checks were cashed at the Rainelle Kroger, the release stated. Baker obtained store security footage from the dates checks were cashed, and surveillance footage was released to the public. Baker received a tip about the suspect’s identity June 27.

Baker obtained a confession from Johnson, the release stated.

Baker said other checks stolen from the victim were cashed, but deputies are still working to recover all of them.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com

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