PARKERSBURG - Two men indicted on charges of burglary, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery were acquitted Thursday in Wood County Circuit Court.
Matthew Edward Depew, 21, and William Joseph Kerns, 24, were acquitted after a two-day trial. Jurors reached their verdict after three hours of deliberations.
In January 2012, they, along with Robert Lee McElfresh, 19, were indicted in connection with an October 2011 robbery of individuals in a West Virginia Avenue residence.
According to Parkersburg police reports, the suspects allegedly entered an apartment on West Virginia Avenue and displayed a pistol to the victims demanding money.
Depew also was charged with robbery after he was arrested for allegedly being in possession of suspected stolen items from the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley in Parkersburg.
On Christmas Eve 2011, Kerns was charged with possession of stolen property. Kerns had one firearm and two knives from the museum, city police said.
On Dec. 30, the investigation of a series of automobile breaking and enterings led authorities to Depew, who also was charged with possession of stolen property, police said.
They have not been indicted on those charges.
McElfresh failed to appear for a plea and sentencing hearing Aug 24. Because he did not appear and his attorney stated his whereabouts were not known, a motion from the state for a capias was granted for his arrest. McElfresh's bond was revoked and forfeited.
