Four men charged in

connection to March robbery
By Melanie Davis

melanie@mountaintimes.com

Boone investigators have arrested four suspects in connection to an armed robbery which was reported on March 25 at a Park Street apartment.

The apartment was occupied by three individuals at the time of alleged robbery. They reported a knock on the door at 11:30 p.m. Upon answering the door, the three reported they were confronted by three males wearing hooded sweatshirts and bandannas over their faces. The men were said to be armed with a shotgun and two baseball bats.

There were no injuries reported during the robbery.

As a result of a follow-up investigation, officers of the Boone Police Department Investigations Division charged four people on Wednesday in connection to that robbery.

Mickey Bon Anderson, 21, of Banner Elk, was charged with accessory after the fact to armed robbery.

Anderson is scheduled to appear in district court on May 8 in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

Stephen Curtis Voisey, 18, of Banner Elk, was charged with armed robbery. He is scheduled to appear in district court on May 20 in lieu of a $65,000 bond.

Tyler Jordan LaFrance, 17, of Deep Gap, was also charged with armed robbery. He is scheduled to appear in district court on May 20 in lieu of a $30,000 bond.

Chase Bryant Whittington, 18, of Boone, was charged with armed robbery. He is scheduled to appear in district court on May 20 in lieu of a $50,000 bond. Whittington is alleged to have been in possession of the shotgun during the robbery, although the shotgun has not been recovered.

At the time of robbery, the three individuals reported seeing the men drive off in a blue Scion vehicle. Capt. William Greene said that information was accurate. He also added that the investigation is continuing into the armed robbery incident.

Voisey, Whittington and Anderson remain in custody at the Watauga County Detention Center. LaFrance was released on bond.

Whittington was charged earlier this month with two counts of felonious breaking and entering, two counts of felonious larceny, and two counts of damage to property in connection to break-ins at Peabody's and First Tracks Ski Shop on N.C. 105. Whittington was seen by officers leaving the scene carrying a snowboard and pack back.

Upon seeing the officer, Whittington fled the scene of the April 3 break-ins and was later discovered with the help of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit.

He was taken before a Watauga County magistrate and placed on a $150,000 bond, with a scheduled court date of May 20.

A total of $2,300 in merchandise was taken from the two stores, and $2,000 in property damage occurred at the stores.