GALLIPOLIS — A man accused of robbing a Gallipolis convenience store with a knife was recently charged in the Common Pleas Court of Gallia County.

Arthur W. Writesel, Jr., 26, Langsville, and formerly of Gallipolis, was arrested last month by deputies with the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly fled the scene of a robbery at the Par Mar convenience store located at 56 Vine Street in Gallipolis.

Officers with the Gallipolis Police Department responded to the store after receiving word of the robbery at approximately 1:42 p.m. on Sunday, November 18.

Reportedly, an assailant, armed with a knife, entered the store, brandished the weapon and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Employees with the store gave officers a description of the male suspect and a passerby provided a description of the vehicle — including a partial license plate number — that the assailant was seen entering after fleeing the convenience store on foot.

Shortly after the robbery was reported, a vehicle matching the description of the one seen by witnesses at the scene was stopped by a sheriff’s office deputy on Ohio 554.

According to the police department, three males were located inside the vehicle at the time of the stop, including a male suspect driving the vehicle who matched the description of the assailant — a male later identified as Writesel.

All three individuals were detained and transported to the Gallipolis Police Department for questioning.

Following an investigation, Writesel was identified as the suspect and was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery as a result of the incident.

The other two males were released.

Writesel was arrested and charged in the Gallipolis Municipal Court with aggravated robbery. His bond was set at $500,000, 10 percent.

A preliminary hearing was held on November 26 and this case was bound over to the common pleas court where it was heard by a grand jury.

An indictment was filed against Writesel on December 13, and, during a hearing on Monday, was charged with aggravated robbery for the incident on November 18 — a first degree felony.

The defendant pleaded not guilty, and his bond was set at $25,000, 10 percent.

He was ordered to have no contact with the Par Mar store.

A jury trial in this case has been set for February 7. A plea may be filed by January 28.

Writesel later posted bond for his release from the Gallia County Jail.