By HEATHER PYLES, Staff Writer
Somerset — Two Russell County men pleaded guilty in Pulaski Circuit Court this week to robbing a southern Pulaski County store.
Phillip Edward Lawless, 21, and Andrew Travis Hosack, 21, both of Russell Springs, appeared before Pulaski Circuit Judge Jeffrey T. Burdette Friday and entered guilty pleas in connection with the July 2009 robbery of the Dollar General store in Burnside, according to information from Commonwealth Attorney Eddy F. Montgomery.
Both defendants pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, according to Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David L. Dalton.
Authorities responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the Burnside Dollar General on July 26 at around 8:45 a.m.
The victim told police that two white males — later identified as Lawless and Hosack — entered the store armed with a firearm and a knife and took what Burnside police called “a substantial amount of money” from employees there.
The money stolen amounted to $2,600 in cash, and, according to Dalton, Lawless and Hosack “pointed the store manager to the exact safe where the money was located ...”
A third suspect was also identified early in the investigation.
Samantha Lynne Warriner, 24, also of Russell Springs, was identified as an employee or former employee of the store, and according to Burnside police, she is Lawless’ sister and, at least at the time of the incident, was Hosack’s girlfriend.
Police “determined that the robbers drove up in a maroon van, which was the same van that had dropped off an employee (Warriner) ... just minutes before the robbery,” according to Dalton.
During court on Friday Dalton recommended 20 years in prison for Lawless and Hosack. In addition to that sentence, Burdette imposed 360 days of contempt jail time on Hosack “for abusive and disruptive behavior during court,” according to Dalton.
Warriner pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and complicity to second-degree burglary in connection with the incident.
Dalton said she may receive a 12 year probated sentence if no conditions are broken and all appearances to court are made.
The Burnside Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department.
Burdette set final sentencing for January 21, 2010.
