A Castalia resident is one of five people charged with First Degree Armed Robbery in Fayette County

Posted: Mon, Jul 20, 2020 2:31 PM

Michael Root (Photo courtesy of the Fayette County Sheriff's Office)

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office has arrested five people, including 19-year-old Michael Root of Castalia, in connections with an armed robbery Sunday at Echo Valley Park just east of West Union.

Sheriff's deputies say the five individuals allegedly approached a car and held the passengers at gun point, demanding money.

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office has arrested three juveniles and two adults and charged them all with First Degree Armed Robbery, a class B felony punishable up to 25 years in prison.
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Charged with armed robbery were 19-year-old Michael Root of Castalia, 18-year-old Drake Thompson of West Union, 17-year-old Jerome Sargent of Fayette and 16-year-old Tayton Messler of Hawkeye. A 15-year-old male juvenile was referred to juvenile authorities.

Under state law, a person who is 16 years old or older who is charged with a forcible felony can be charged as an adult.