Man who robbed Lebanon Sav-A-Lot convicted

LEBANON — A man who was part of a father-son duo was convicted on several charges Friday in connection with daring break-ins at a Lebanon shopping center in July 2009.

James Ayers, 33, of New Vienna and who is serving time in prison on other charges, was convicted by a Warren County Common Pleas Court jury. He was convicted on two counts of aggravated robbery with specifications, unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, having a weapon under disability, two counts of breaking and entering, three counts of grand theft, and two counts of kidnapping with specifications, according to Assistant Prosecutor Matt Nolan.

James Ayers and his father, Melvin D. Ayers, 52, broke into Davidson’s Jewelers and the Sav-A-Lot store in the Colony Square Shopping Center on East Main Street in Lebanon.

James Ayers was convicted in Hamilton County on charges of burglary and two counts of having a weapon under disability and is serving six years at the Lebanon Correctional Institution, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections website.

Nolan said Judge Neal Bronson will sentence James Ayers after he is tried on a robbery charge on Dec. 2. He is accused of robbing the Speedway station adjacent to the shopping center in January 2009.

In August, his father, Melvin D. Ayers, 52, who also is serving time in prison, entered guilty pleas to several charges. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for convictions of breaking and entering, felony theft, breaking and entering with specifications, aggravated robbery with specifications, grand theft with specifications and two counts of kidnapping with specifications.

He was ordered to pay more than $30,000 in restitution. Melvin Ayers is incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution on unrelated charges, Nolan said.

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