Uniontown man will face robbery charges
All of the charges lodged against a Uniontown man who allegedly robbed a Connellsville family were held for Fayette County Court on Thursday.
According to the criminal complaint, Corey Johnson allegedly held up Jason Shaw at gun point around 2 p.m. March 29 on South Eighth Street in Connellsville. Shaw was with his girlfriend, who was not identified, and their 6-month-old daughter, police said.
The complaint said Johnson approached Shaw, and allegedly pulled out a pistol which he aimed at Shaw’s face. Johnson said to Shaw, “Let’s see how much money you got on you,” police alleged.
When Shaw testified Thursday in Magisterial District Judge Ronald J. Haggerty Jr.’s courtroom, he said the gun was pointed about six inches from his face. Shaw said because his family was present, he chose not to make any “rash” decisions, but instead give the money from his wallet to Johnson.
The complaint alleges that Shaw removed $227 from his wallet.
Police alleged Johnson fled on foot, but was taken into custody March 31 by Uniontown police at Uniontown Hospital. Authorities did not say why he was at the hospital.
Shaw testified that when he lived in Uniontown a few months prior to the incident, he saw Johnson a few times at the apartment building where he was staying on Gallatin Avenue. Shaw said that aside from saying “hi” in the hallway as any neighbor would do, he had never met Johnson before or invited him into his apartment while he was staying.
According to court documents, Johnson, 35, was charged with two counts of robbery, three counts of recklessly endangering another person, three counts of theft, receiving stolen property and firearms not to be carried without a license.
Johnson’s bond was originally set at $75,000 straight cash when he was arraigned March 31 by Magisterial District Judge Richard Kasunic, but was decreased to $25,000 on May 29 by Haggerty. Johnson remains incarcerated in Fayette County Prison.