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VIROQUA--Two men, who were arrested earlier this year on suspicion of armed robbery at a Viroqua store in December of 2007, were bound over for trial on Thursday.

Casey R. Alm, 18, Sparta, and Gregory P. Fair, 34, Cashton, both appeared in Vernon County Circuit Court on Thursday. Fair waved his preliminary hearing and Judge Michael Rosborough found there was probable cause to bind Fair over for trial. His arraignment was set for April 28.

Fair then was one of three witnesses who testified at the preliminary hearing for Alm. After an hour-and-a-half of testimony, Rosborough found there was probable cause to bind Alm over for trial. Alm was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the armed robbery charge. A status conference in Alm’s case was set for April 28.

Fair testified that he and Alm left Cashton and went to Viroqua on the evening of Dec. 1, 2007, to look for aluminum cans or scrap metal to steal. They eventually discussed committing either a household burglary or robbery, Fair said.

Fair said he didn’t want Alm to rob the store, but Alm said, “I’m gonna do it.”

Alm pulled a revolver out of his coat in the vehicle before heading off on foot to Mary’s Quik Stop, Fair said.

A clerk at the store testified that a man wearing a bandanna over his face robbed her at gunpoint asking her to put money into a small black bag.

“Put the money in the bag or I’ll shoot you,” the clerk said were the words of the gunman.

The clerk complied with the instructions, but in leaving, the gunman tried to exit through the wrong door, which only opens from the outside. The clerk then directed the gunman to the correct door so he could leave.

“I thought (the gunman) was going to panic and shoot me,” the clerk said.

Fair testified that Alm returned from the store to the vehicle with a small black bag containing money.

On the way back to Cashton Alm counted the money in the vehicle, Fair said. Alm gave Fair $50, Fair said.

The clerk called the police as soon as the gunman left the store. The crime occurred during the middle of a heavy snowstorm. Authorities were able to record tire impressions left in the snow and they later matched the tire tracks to the tires on what Fair identified was the get-away vehicle.

Fair and Alm were apprehended due to a Crimestopper’s tip.

Alm faces more than 20 other felony counts in Vernon and Monroe counties. Most of the charges are for bailjumping.