POMEROY — Nearly eight months after the armed robbery of three Meigs County gas stations, the man who plead guilty to the crime has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Alex A. Craig, 26, of Racine, plead guilty to three counts of aggravated robbery during a hearing on Aug. 27, and was sentenced on one count at that time.

Craig was sentenced to 10 years on count one, aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree during the August hearing.

On Wednesday, Meigs County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Tenoglia listened to statements by Meigs County Prosecutor Colleen Williams and Craig’s attorney Richard Hedges, along with reviewing a pre-sentencing investigation and the victim impact statements prior to pronouncing the sentence.

Hedges stated that his client was put in the position to commit the crimes by drugs and that he has learned a lot about himself since that time. He added that Craig regrets his actions.

Craig was sentenced to 10 years on counts two and three, both aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree. The three counts of aggravated robbery are first degree felonies and carried a maximum sentence of 11 years and a maximum fine of $20,000.

While no addition fine was imposed, Craig was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $823.11 and court costs.

Per the plea agreement, the state will not oppose judicial release after 24 years in prison.

Craig also faced two counts of kidnapping which were dropped according to the agreement reached.

Craig plead guilty to the armed robbery of the TNT Pitstop in Syracuse on March 30, the TNT Pitstop in Chester on April 2, and the 124 Mart near Pomeroy on April 10.

The aggravated robbery charges from the robberies at the Chester TNT Pitstop and 124 Mart both carry a gun specification. The specification adds a mandatory one year sentence to be served consecutively to any other sentence.

The string of recent armed robberies in the area began on March 26 in Mason, W.Va., with the robbery of the Par Mar Convenience Store on Second Street. In the following two weeks, the TNT Pitstop in Syracuse, the TNT Pitstop in Chester, the J-Mart in Millwood, W.Va., and the 124 Mart near Pomeroy, were also robbed at gun point.

Craig has not been charged in connection with either of the two robberies in West Virginia. At the time of his arrest in April, Craig reportedly admitted to guilt in all five robberies when questioned by Meigs County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Smith and Jackson County, W.Va., Sheriff’s Deputy Ross Mellinger.

Craig’s sister Marcy Craig was also indicted on three counts of aggravated robbery in connection with the three armed robberies at the Meigs County gas stations.

A jury trial for Marcy Craig is set to take place in January 2013 in Meigs County Common Pleas Court.