BENTONVILLE — A Rogers man pleaded not guilty to participating in the attempted armed robbery of a convenience store.
Jesse Compton, 20, is charged with aggravated robbery, a class Y felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life. He entered the plea during an arraignment Thursday before Circuit Judge Robin Green.
According to court documents, police believe Compton is one of two men suspected in the Oct. 11 attempted robberyof the E-Z Mart at 525 N. Second St. in Rogers.
At about 7:33 a.m. Oct. 11, Rogers police were called to the E-Z Mart for an armed robbery, according to a probable-cause a◊davit.
E-Z Mart employee Kyle Moore said he went outsideto smoke when he was approached by two white males, one of whom pointed a handgun, according to court documents.
Moore told police one of the men was wearing a dark-colored ski mask that exposed his face from the cheeks down. Moore recognized the facial features and voice as those of Compton, a former E-Z Mart employee, according to the probablecause a◊davit.
Moore told police Compton pointed a gun at him, ran inside the store and triedto open the cash register. Compton came outside a few minutes later, where both he and the unidentified male fl ed on foot without obtaining any money, according to court documents.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14.
Compton is being held in Benton County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Cpl. Angel Murphy-Pearce, public information officer for Rogers police, said the second man has yet to be apprehended.
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