Dec 17, 2015 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – A 24-year-old Wind Ridge man who robbed Stokes General Store with a toy gun in August pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Under a plea agreement, Willie Wayne Jones of 142 Kuhn Hill Road pleaded guilty to robbery and other related charges and was sentenced by Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman to 2 to 10 years in prison.

Jones was given credit for time served from Aug. 27 and was ordered to pay a $750 fine and $380 in restitution to the store owner, according to the sentencing order. Jones also pleaded guilty to the burglary of a house on McCracken Road in May 2014. He received a sentence that will run concurrent with the robbery sentence. He was fined $250 and ordered to pay the property owner $2,200 in restitution.

Jones, who was a regular customer at Stokes and is known by the owner and employees, entered the store about 1:15 p.m. Aug. 27.

Ian Snyder, the cashier, testified at Jones’ preliminary hearing in September Jones was “acting a little strange.” He was walking around outside the store and came inside several times before asking for a pen and paper, Snyder said. Jones then left, but returned minutes later and asked to use the phone to call his father.

Snyder was holding his month-old niece while his sister-in-law, Diane Stokes, who owns the store, worked on invoices. That’s when, Snyder said, Jones handed him a piece of paper demanding cash.

“Hand me the money and the green bag or I’ll shoot,” the note said.

Snyder said he asked Jones to leave, but Jones pulled out what appeared to be a black revolver and again asked for money. Snyder handed him some cash and Jones left without further incident.

Snyder testified he was in fear for his life and that of Stokes’ infant daughter.

Jones was arrested by state police at his Kuhn Hill Road home less than an hour after the robbery.

Following his preliminary hearing, Jones’ lawyer, Gary Graminski, called Jones’ actions “a call for help” and said Jones had no intention of hurting anyone.