JEFFERSON COUNTY MEN PLEAD GUILTY AND SENTENCED IN GAS STATION ROBBERY

Robbery took place in 2020

                              (JCJ)

Madison, Indiana (September 27, 2021) - Two Jefferson County men have entered guilty pleas and have been sentenced for robbing a local gas station in September 2020.

Robert Allen Northern, 46, and Jerry D. Casey, Jr., 42, collaborated to steal lottery tickets from a BP station, injuring an employee in the process.

“This crime was terrifying for the victim,” said Jefferson County Prosecutor David R. Sutter. “I’m glad to see these perpetrators behind bars for a significant amount of time.”

Northern entered a plea agreement in April; Casey did so in July, both in Jefferson Circuit Court. Northern was sentenced on July 9, 2021, and Casey was sentenced on September 10, 2021.

Northern pled guilty to aiding, inducing, or causing robbery as a Level 5 felony; his sentence was enhanced because he is a habitual offender. He was sentenced to five years with the Indiana Department of Corrections with two years suspended to Jefferson County Community Corrections. The habitual offender enhancement adds four years, for a total of seven years to be fully executed.

Casey pled guilty to robbery, a Level 3 felony, and theft, a Level 6 felony. He was sentenced to seven years with none suspended to the Indiana Department of Corrections on the robbery charge. He must also make restitution.

The incident occurred Sept. 15, 2020, at the Hanover BP on LaGrange Road.

The victim told police a man came into the store, purchased lottery tickets and went into the bathroom. After a long period of time, he came out complaining that the ceiling had fallen on him and injured his eye. The employee examined the bathroom, finding the ceiling destroyed presumably from the man attempting to climb into it.

The employee told the man, later identified as Casey, he needed to leave. Casey purchased another lottery ticket and left. The employee then turned the store lights off and went to the office to close for the night. As he walked into the back, Casey emerged from behind the door, demanding the employee get on the floor.

When the employee resisted, Casey punched him several times in the face then pushed him onto a couch and exited the store.

Upon reviewing the security cameras, the employee saw that the man had stolen a large number of lottery tickets. When police arrived, the employee’s sister who also works at the BP had returned from running an errand. She told police she saw the man grab lottery tickets and run out the back door.

When police obtained a search warrant for Casey’s phone, they found a conversation between him, and a contact named “Al Gore.” The conversation referred to a man alone, a bathroom and a back door being wide open.

“Al Gore” was identified as Robert Allen Northup.  Casey’s girlfriend told police Northern drove Casey to the BP station the night of the robbery. Casey admitted to police that Northup was “Al” and that Northup had driven him to the gas station. He also confirmed that Northup was listed as “Al Gore” in his contacts.

We would not have resolved this case without the excellent work by the Hanover Police Department," said Sutter.  "We are fortunate to have top notch law enforcement agencies in Jefferson County."