Third armed robbery suspect in court

Johnnie Brown

The third of three men implicated in the December armed robbery at Cloverdale Liquors made his initial appearance in Putnam Superior Court Monday afternoon.

During a brief appearance before Judge Denny Bridges, Johnnie C. Brown, 29, Cloverdale, had preliminary not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf to three felony charges:

-- Armed robbery, a Level 3 felony, punishable by 3-16 years in prison.

-- Theft, a Level 6 felony, punishable by 6-30 months in prison.

-- Conspiracy to commit armed robbery, a Level 3 felony carrying a sentence of 3-16 years in prison.

If convicted on all three charges, Brown could receive a maximum sentence of more than 34 years.

Brown, who was arrested last Friday at a location near the Putnam-Owen county line after more than three months of evading authorities, was ordered held at the Putnam County Jail on $30,000 cash bond. He said he plans to hire local attorney James Holder to represent him in court.

Brown’s alleged cohorts in the Dec. 7 robbery -- Dalton C. Perryman, 26, Martinsville, and Dennis L. Kent, 40, Greencastle -- were arrested in the days after the incident. Both men remain lodged in the jail on $50,000 cash bond set by Judge Bridges.

Along with Perryman, Brown is alleged to have robbed Cloverdale Liquors the evening of Dec. 7. Kent, who had been employed at the store, is the suspected “inside man.”

Perryman’s charges are identical to those of Brown, while Kent faces only a Level 3 felony conspiracy to commit armed robbery charge.

A no-contact order was issued for Brown in regard to the female liquor store clerk. He and the others also cannot enter any property owned by Cloverdale Liquors until the court says otherwise.

Perryman was arrested on a warrant by Cloverdale Police Sgt. Charlie Hallam Dec. 28. Kent has been in jail since Dec. 9 on unrelated charges.

Kent, who had been employed as a clerk at Cloverdale Liquors, was arrested at the store Dec. 9 on an outstanding Owen County warrant. Owen officials allege Kent failed to appear at a review hearing regarding a May 2016 conviction for driving with a suspended license.

At the time of his most recent arrest, just two days after the robbery, Kent was reportedly wearing all new clothes and jewelry. He was also discovered to be in possession of methamphetamine and a controlled substance, charges for which he has remained in the Putnam County Jail ever since.

During their investigation, Putnam Sheriff’s Department detectives Pat McFadden and Doug Nally discovered video surveillance, physical evidence and witnesses they believe link the men to the robbery.