Ravenna man indicted for allegedly robbing four stores in Portage County earlier this year

A Ravenna man was indicted in federal court for robbing four stores in Portage County earlier this year.

Matthew L. Shilling, 31, was charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of bank robbery.

The indictment alleges Shilling robbed the following locations: Circle K on East Main Street in Ravenna on February 15; BP gas station on State Highway 14 in Ravenna on February 18; Circle K on West Main Street in Ravenna on March 1 and Chase Bank on Waterloo Road in Randolph on March 5.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI, Ravenna Police Department and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Joyce.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.