Chad R. Rennicker

slideshow

POMEROY — The man accused of robbing the Farmers Bank in Tuppers Plains on May 30 was arraigned on seven counts in the case on Wednesday afternoon.

Chad R. Rennicker, 25, of Ripley, W.Va., is charged with six counts of kidnapping and one count of aggravated robbery. Each charge is a felony of the first degree and carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Bond was set at $1 million, with 10 percent allowed by Judge I. Carson Crow

The Public Defender’s Office in Athens was appointed to represent Rennicker.

According to the indictment filed on Monday morning, Rennicker did attempt or attempt to commit a theft offense while having a deadly weapon on or about his person or under his control and either displayed the weapon, brandished it, or indicated the possession of use of it during the offense.

The six kidnapping counts are one count for each individual working at the bank at the time of the alleged offense. The indictment alleges that Rennicker did commit the crime of kidnapping at Farmers Bank in Tuppers Plains, by force, threat or deception, knowingly remove another from the place where the person was found or restrain the liberty of the other person, to facilitate the commission of any felony or flight thereafter.

Rennicker was also wanted by the Belmont County Ohio Sheriff’s Office and the Perry Township Police Department in Stark County Ohio. In May, Rennicker was sentenced on armed robbery charges in Belmont County and has failed to turn himself into authorities to serve his sentence.

He along with Michaela Fritz were arrested on June 1 in Ripley, W.Va.

The arrest of both suspects at an apartment in Ripley began with the surveillance of a white van that the suspects were driving. Rennicker and Fritz went to an apartment complex in Ripley and were followed by officers at that time. In response to the presence of law enforcement, the pair then attempted to hide in the attic, but Rennicker fell through the ceiling into the bedroom of an adjacent apartment. He was captured and taken into custody without incident.

Fritz is currently in South Central Regional Jail in W.Va., being held on $100,000 bond out of Jackson County. She was arrested on charges of aiding and abetting.