London man accused of robbing couple at gunpoint outside Corbin hotel

The London man accused of robbing Taco Bell and Cash Xpress in north Corbin at gunpoint has now been charged with robbing a Corbin couple at gunpoint outside a Corbin hotel.

Jason A. Wagers, 34, who was indicted in Laurel County in November on robbery, unlawful imprisonment and wanton endangerment charges stemming from the robberies at the two stores on June 16 and Oct. 28, is being held in the Laurel County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond.

Following an investigation by Corbin Police Officer Steve Meadors into the robbery at Landmark Inn on Sept. 15, an arrest warrant was issued on Feb. 24.

According to the warrant, the couple, Vicki and John Conner, both of Corbin, picked Wagers out of a photo lineup, identifying him as one of the two men that robbed them while they were staying at the hotel.

The robbers allegedly forced their way into the couple’s room and held them at gunpoint while taking unspecified items.

According to the warrant, police have yet to identify the second robber.

At an arraignment Tuesday in Whitley District Court, Wagers pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree robbery.

Wagers was arrested at his home on Hartmine Road, off of Ky. 1223 in Laurel County in November following an investigation by Laurel County Sheriff’s detectives into the two robberies.

Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, said previously that there is nothing to indicate Wagers had an accomplice during either robbery.

Deputies were called to the Cash Xpress store on U.S. 25 about 10:30 a.m. on June 16.

The clerk told deputies that a white male in his mid 20’s, between 5’10" and 6′ tall and weighing about 190 pounds, came into the store, pointed a handgun at the clerk and demanded money.

Video surveillance shows the robber was wearing a black hoodie and ski mask, dark baggy blue jeans and black tennis shoes.
After the clerk gave him the money, the robber forced her into a back room and then fled the scene. The clerk was not injured.
Deputies were called to the Taco Bell restaurant about 7:24 p.m. on Oct. 28 after a customer came in and found the store empty and the cash drawers standing open.

Deputies found the employees, three males and a female, locked in a freezer. Employees at the store were forced into a freezer by a lone gunman who had brandished a pistol and stole an undisclosed amount of money. Police described the man as 5-8 to 6-0 tall wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and a bandana around his face.

Wagers is scheduled to return to Laurel Circuit Court on July 19 for the final pretrial conference in the case. The jury trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on July 24.