A Columbus man charged with robbing two Ohio University students at gunpoint in July pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday.
Adam Lawson, 24, pleaded not guilty to one count of robbery in the Athens County Court of Common Pleas.
The charges stem from an incident when Lawson and Domeion Mayo, 24, allegedly robbed two OU students in their apartment at The Summit at Coates Run on July 6.
Mayo allegedly held a Smith and Wesson 5906 handgun to both the victims’ heads and told them to empty their pockets so he could take their valuables, according to court documents. Mayo also allegedly told the victims that someone was outside the residence and they would be harmed if they tried to leave.
Twenty minutes later, Lawson and Mayo were stopped by Athens County sheriff deputies on Route 33 near The Plains as the pair was possibly heading to Columbus, according to a news release from the Athens Police Department.
Mayo was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of abduction and one count of possession of marijuana. Mayo allegedly had more than 500 grams of marijuana in his car.
Mayo pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment July 18.
Lawson was released on his own recognizance after his arraignment hearing Wednesday. Mayo is currently being held at the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail on $200,000 bond with 10 percent allowed.
Robbery is a third-degree felony and Lawson could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 if convicted at a trial, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Mayo could be sentenced to a maximum of 29 years in prison and a maximum fine of $62,500 if convicted of all charges at a trial, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Lawson is due back in court Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. for a preliminary hearing.
ml147009@ohiou.edu
