2 Local Men Arrested in PA Face Local Charges

Two local men, who are facing charges in western Pennsylvania for robbing a grocery store, will also be charged for an incident here in Muskingum County.

Sheriff Matt Lutz says 25-year-old Michael Burkhart of Zanesville and 23-year-old Christopher Stone of Coshocton tied up two employees at Six County Crisis Hotline Center on Dillon Acres Drive at knifepoint just after midnight Friday. He says they then proceeded to take the local workers’ cash and credit cards before stealing one of their vehicles and fleeing the scene.

"Obviously, they were due to be released and just decided to do this before they left, " says Lutz.

The car was abandoned in Belmont County where Lutz says the two stole a semi-truck. They were caught in Pennsylvania after allegedly robbing a grocery store and stealing a third vehicle.

"They will have to go through a rule four extradition hearing and face their charges over there. Then once they’re finished with them or once things are stabilized, then we can probably get them back here at least for their initial arraignment, " says Lutz.

Lutz says he’s not sure how long it will take to get Burkhart and Stone back to Muskingum County. They are charged with five different counts here, and if convicted, could face more than 40 years in prison.

Lutz says it isn’t the first time the two men have gotten in trouble with the law. He says they have extensive criminal records.