By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
A Hays man pleaded not guilty Friday to aggravated robbery and was bound over for trial in the Nov. 3 robbery at Tiger Mart Convenience Store in Hays.
Jordan Stevens, 27, appeared in Ellis County District Court on Friday.
During the hearing, the store clerk and an investigator with the Hays Police Department identified Stevens as the man they said brandished a firearm during the alleged robbery.
Store clerk Benjamin Moses said a man with a hood up pulled a gun from his waistband and demanded all the money in the cash register and in the safe.
Moses said the hood did not cover the person’s face and he was able to identify Stevens as the suspect.
When the suspect left the business, Moses called law enforcement. Investigator Joshua Burkholder was called to help with the investigation.
Burkholder testified Friday that he looked at video surveillance from the incident and identified Stevens as the man who entered the business, demanded the money and then fled the scene in a white Nissan passenger car.
Officers were able to locate a car matching the car in the surveillance footage in the alley behind the apartment complex in the 2700 block of Colonial Drive.
Burkholder also testified he was at the scene of where the car was located when he saw Stevens wearing clothes matching the clothes the robbery suspect was wearing.
According to Burkholder’s testimony, police arrested Stevens in connection with the robbery. After initially telling Burkholder he did not have anything to say, Stevens allegedly told Burkholder that he committed the crime and that “she was just the driver.”
Kelsie Replogle, 20, was identified to the person Stevens was talking about. She pleaded no contest Feb. 2 to aggravated robbery. A sentencing date has not been set yet.
According to Burkholder, a search warrant of Stevens’ residence led to the discovery of more than $1,000 in cash and a handgun.
Trego County Judge Richard Flax oversaw Stevens’ case and found probable cause for Stevens to be bound over for trial on the charge of aggravated robbery.
Stevens requested a jury trial and was remanded to the Ellis County jail pending trial.