May 1, 2002
Section: First Edition Cos
Edition: Fulton Montgomery Schoharie; First
Page: B-05
Column: News in Brief--First Ed. Cos.

Robbery case jury selection to resume

SCHOHARIE - Jury selection is expected to resume in Schoharie County Court on Friday in the trial of an Otsego County man facing a first-degree robbery charge. Jeffrey A. Loucks, 43, of Cherry Valley, is one of two men arrested for the July robbery of the McDonald's restaurant in the village of Cobleskill. Ryan A. Williams, 22, of Cobleskill, pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery, a class D felony, and agreed to testify during Loucks' trial. Williams is out on bail pending a June sentencing. Prosecutors and defense attorney Randall Kehoe began the jury selection process Monday, and nine jurors have been selected, court personnel said Tuesday. Attorneys postponed jury selection Tuesday to submit legal papers to the court, Chief Court Clerk Chris Spies said Tuesday. Loucks and Williams were arrested the day after the robbery, in which police say Loucks brandished a shotgun inside the village restaurant. Police said Loucks, who was dressed in camouflage, entered the restaurant, demanded cash from the registers and forced four female employees to the office to open the safe. Williams is expected to be sentenced to a six-month jail term with five years felony probation, pending a pre-sentence investigation.

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