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Family: Holdup suspects have alibis: Say 3 of accused were elsewhere during crimes
Aug 30, 2009 (The Dominion Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Three of the four men accused in the armed robbery spree in Morgantown and Fairmont say have alibis, family and friends told The Dominion Post.
Charles "Bo" Michael, 22, Paul Shaffer, 19, and Robert Shaffer, 18, all of Morgantown, were not anywhere near the stores at the time of the robberies, the relatives said. Furthermore, the three are not capable of the crimes, sources said. Michael and the Shaffers are half brothers.
The three and co-defendant Gregory Cale, 22, of Masontown, are charged with one count of first-degree robbery each in connection with the seven armed robberies during a 10-day span earlier this month. Cale and Michael are also half brothers.
Michael's fiancee, Lisa Mayfield, said he was watching their 4-month-old daughter at her house at the time of the robbery at Maverick's on Don Knotts Boulevard -- the robbery police have charged him with committing.
"It's just ridiculous," said Mayfield, the mother of Michael's two young children. "Especially when I know where he was at the exact time of the robbery."
Paul Shaffer's neighbor, Nicole Tyman, said Shaffer was with her and her fiance at their Woodland Terrace home the day that he allegedly robbed Woof's, a pet shop in Chelsea Square.
Tyman said he arrived at about 11:30 a.m. and played outside with her kids for most of the day. He left at about 10 p.m. Woof's was robbed around 1 p.m., police said.
Robert Shaffer, who goes by "Robbie," was out shopping at the time Woof's was robbed, a family member said. The Dominion Post has agreed to withhold that person's name.
Shaffer's criminal complaint says only that he was "involved" in the Woof's crime, but does not say he committed the robbery. Paul Shaffer's complaint alleges he was the robber.
The family member said Robert Shaffer went to Lowe's to buy insulation that day because he had bought a trailer and was fixing it up. The family wants to get surveillance video from Lowe's to prove he was there and wasn't anywhere near Woof's.
Investigating officers with Morgantown Police Department were not available to comment on the possible alibis.
"He's trying to straighten his life up," the family member said, noting that Robert Shaffer planned to apply to WVU next semester.
Mayfield said Michael is trying to turn his life around.
"He wants to better himself for his family," Mayfield said.
Family members pointed fingers at Cale and alleging that he lied to police.
Cale was the first to be arrested and admitted to committing several robberies, according to a criminal complaint.
Michael's complaint states that an unnamed "participating informant," also Michael's brother, accused Michael of robbing Maverick's.An unnamed "co-defendant" accused both Shaffers of involvement in the Woof's robbery, complaints state. Cale has not yet appeared in Monongalia County Magistrate Court.
Family members said Paul Shaffer has repeatedly requested a lie detector test and requested to participate in a suspect line-up to prove his innocence.
They said they are speaking to his attorney to get that done.
Aunt Susan Alley said Michael and the Shaffers shouldn't be locked up. Their bonds are set at $500,000 and none have been able to post.
"My nephews are innocent and if they get caught up in something, they say if they did it," Alley said.
The robberies occurred during broad daylight and the robber in each brandished a handgun. Businesses robbed during the crime spree included Woof's in Chelsea Square, Aug. 8; Tan 1 on Maple Drive, Aug. 9; Dairy Mart on Morgantown Avenue in Fairmont, Aug. 9; Maverick's on Don Knotts Boulevard, Aug. 10; Slight Indulgence on Collins Ferry Road, Aug. 11; Adams Hallmark in the Glenmark Centre, Aug 11; and Video Warehouse, also in the Glenmark Centre, Aug. 17.
To see more of The Dominion Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
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