Casino employee accused of armed robbery pleads not guilty
By KOMU Digital Staff
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BOONVILLE, Missouri (KOMU) — A suspect charged in connection to an armed robbery at the Isle of Capri casino in Boonville appeared in court via video call on Tuesday.
Benjamin Charles, 21, an employee of the casino, was arrested on charges of first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and tampering with physical evidence in felony prosecution, according to court documents.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday.
A probable cause statement alleged that Charles, acting alongside 20-year-old Hollis Vanleer, entered the casino around 2 p.m. Wednesday carrying guns, then stole $1,276,000 from the bank area of the casino.
While the suspects were trying to escape, someone at the casino tackled one of the suspects and a fight ensued, according to the probable cause statement.
While the first suspect and the patron were fighting, the second suspect approached and struck the patron in the face and head numerous times with his fist, ending the fight and allowing the suspects to exit the building, according to the statement.
Charles and Vanleer were identified as the suspects, and Missouri Gaming Commission officers identified Charles as an employee of the Isle of Capri casino who was on duty on Thursday night, according to the probable cause statement. He was detained at the casino, according to the statement.
During an interview with investigators, Charles allegedly said he and Vanleer transported the money stolen from the casino out of Missouri, where the money was concealed, according to the probable cause statement.
Charles is being held at the Cooper County Jail on a $1.3 million bond.
Vanleer is currently at large and has a warrant out for his arrest, according to court documents.
“We’re confident we’re going to locate the second subject,” Missouri State Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Brown said Monday. “It’s not a matter of if, more as a matter of when, we’re going to locate him and make an arrest.”
Brown said agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.
“A couple of biggest things that they’re able to help with is one manpower … and their ability to work in neighboring states across the nation. It becomes very important and very helpful to have those law enforcement investigative authorities and powers in the areas that we’re working in as we follow leads and in search for the remaining suspect,” Brown said. “We were able to get someone into custody. That shows how important those working relationships are with our federal local and state police agencies.”
Brown said this investigation does not have a special task force dedicated to it.
“We have a lot of experience across our agency and with the officers involved in this investigation,” Brown said. “This is one of the larger robberies that we can remember in our careers.”
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