By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

One of the two Alabama men arrested in connection with an alleged robbery of the Casey’s convenience store in Ellis and an ensuing manhunt in Hays in December entered into a plea agreement last week.

According to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees, Jessie Dewayne Holland, 29, Saraland, Alabama pleaded guilty earlier this month to felony robbery. Drees said Holland will serve 36-months in prison under the plea agreement

He was originally charged with aggravated robbery and felony possession of stolen property.

Just after 7 p.m. Dec. 29, Holland and Shannon Geoffrey Smith, 26, Wilmer, Ala., allegedly held up Casey’s General, 213 Washington, Ellis, just before 7 p.m.

The two fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, according to the Hays Police Department, when the vehicle was spotted on U.S Highway 183 Alternate, but crashed the vehicle trying to enter onto Interstate 70. The suspects then fled on foot. Smith was located and arrested about an hour later.

Holland was found at approximately 11 p.m. hiding in a Kansas Department of Transportation vehicle near the scene.

While law enforcement officials searched the area for Holland, residents in the northwest corner of Hays were told to lock their doors and shelter-in-place for almost three hours.

Drees said Holland also agreed to testify against the co-defendant Smith, who is scheduled to enter into a plea agreement Wednesday afternoon.

Sentencing for Holland is scheduled for May 2.

Holland also has a hold for a probation violation out of Alabama, according to Drees.