Two Charged With Aggravated Robbery & Burglary

By Jessie Williams

Two men have been charged in a series of armed robberies and home burglaries in Macon County occurring on and around October 28. 

 

According to the Affidavit of Complaints filed by officers from the Lafayette Police Department, 22-year-old Hadan Bennett, of Lafayette, drove 21-year-old Joseph Whittemore, of Adolphus, KY, to the Delta Market in Lafayette and dropped him off with the knowledge that Whittemore was going to rob the store.

Later that night, he also allegedly dropped Whittemore off at the IGA Shell station in Lafayette, with the knowledge Whittemore was planning to rob this store as well. 

The men got away with money from each of the robberies, but most of it was later recovered by detectives. 

The firearm believed to be used in the two robberies was recovered by law enforcement. It was not loaded when it was found by police. 

It was found that Whittemore had a temporary order of protection filed against him that prohibits him from possessing a firearm. 

During the investigation, officers also learned Mr. Whittemore was wearing clothes that belonged to another man. It is believed that he went into this man’s apartment and took a hamper full of clothes that belonged to the male resident. 

The Macon County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with the Lafayette Police Department, discovered the duo was also involved in other home burglaries during their crime spree including a home on Long Creek Road where four guns and a large amount of Bicentennial quarters were stolen. 

Around $800-worth of the quarters were found in the car driven by Bennett. The stolen guns were recovered from a pawn shop in Scottsville, KY. Bennett and Whittemore were identified as the men who pawned the weapons. 

Whittemore and Bennett were arrested on October 29. Whittemore was charged with theft of property, aggravated robbery (2 counts), aggravated burglary, simple possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of probation and violation of order of protection. His bond was set at $60,000. Bennett was charged with aggravated robbery (2 counts). His bond was set at $30,000. 

Both men were also charged with aggravated burglary and theft over $1,000 in the Long Creek Rd. theft.

The Lafayette Police Department would like to thank all of the officers involved in this case and the Macon County Sheriff’s Department for assisting them in the investigation.