By Tribune-Review

Published: Friday, January 4, 2013, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Two Ruffsdale men are being held in the Westmoreland County Prison on $50,000 bond each for allegedly holding up a gas station in New Stanton the night of Dec. 30.

Justin James Chearney, 23, and Joshua T. Sims, 20, are accused of purchasing a BB gun pistol that looks like a .45-caliber handgun at the Wal-Mart in East Huntingdon that evening.

Police allege the pair then went to Chearney's residence in Ruffsdale where Chearney picked up a dark coat, ski mask, bandanna and sunglasses and drove to the Sunoco gas station and convenience store on Center Avenue.

Police said Chearney was wearing the disguise when he entered the store around 10:30 p.m. and threatened the clerk with the gun. They fled with $252, police said.

Both are charged with armed robbery, criminal conspiracy, theft, simple assault and making terroristic threats.

They were arraigned Wednesday before Jeannette District Judge Joseph DeMarchis and jailed after failing to post $50,000 bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8 before Hempfield District Judge James Falcon.

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