Man sentenced to state prison for Washington County robberies
A Uniontown man was sentenced to state prison for 9 to 18 years by Washington County Court of Common Pleas Judge John F. DiSalle for committing two robberies in Washington County last year.
District Attorney Gene Vittone announced Friday that Charles Bell, 51, was sentenced for the March 23 robbery of Burger King restaurant in Bentleyville and the April 4 robbery of a Sunoco Gas Station in Charleroi.
Bell pleaded guilty to various charges in connection with the robberies.
In the Burger King robbery, Bell approached the cashier at the front registers and brandished a firearm, demanding money.
The cashier was unable to open the register without the keys. She walked to her manager’s office while being held at gunpoint and told her manager “someone was here for the money.”
When the manager emerged from his office, Bell took him at gunpoint to the register and stole $380 after the register was opened.
Bell fled in a silver Dodge Stratus.
Police identified Bell after viewing surveillance film as part of the investigation.
On April 4, Bell entered the Sunoco Gas Station in Charleroi wearing a mask and removed $32 from the register.
The Exxon station in Rostraver Township was robbed about 25 minutes later.
The suspect left in a silver Dodge Stratus.
Rostraver Township police later arrested Bell, who was driving a silver Stratus and wearing clothes similar to what was worn in both robberies.
Bell’s sentencing does not include the Rostraver Township robbery, which is still pending in the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas.