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Two men charged with robbery, conspiracy in Scholar Hotel hold-up

MORGANTOWN — A Morgantown man and an out-of-state man both face felony charges after allegedly robbing Ikeem Joshua Degout at gunpoint March 25 at the Scholar Hotel in downtown Morgantown.

Raymond Tyrone Gould Jr., 31, of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Austin Alexander Francis, 25, of Morgantown, are both charged with first-degree robbery and conspiracy. 

Francis and Gould are both currently being held at the North Central Regional Jail. Francis’ bond is set at $200,000 and Gould’s is set at $250,000.

According to the criminal complaint, Degout stated he was robbed at gunpoint by an African American male with a red cast on his arm, who was later identified as Gould. Gould demanded $600 from the victim, and was then handed a gun by Francis and demanded more money.

Degout said there were two other white males present. One was wearing a blue shirt, later identified as Francis, and the other wearing a black shirt. He said a white female was also present.

After giving Gould $100 in cash, he was ordered at gunpoint to send $200 to $300 more using a cash application, which Degout stated he did, according to the complaint.

Officers have reviewed footage from the hotel, which confirmed Degout’s description of the events. Footage also showed Francis “possessed and had his hand on the gun that was used throughout the robbery.” 

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