Suspect in gas station robbery waives hearing

BENTON, Mo. -- A man accused of robbing a Scott County gas station waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and was bound over to circuit court. Robert L. Bom, 44, of rural Benton was charged with first-degree robbery for the April 26 heist of Express Fuel, on Highway 77 near Benton. He is accused of implying he had a gun and threatening the lives of gas station attendants, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said. Bom, who has 13 prior convictions, was arrested shortly after the robbery when officers recognized a description of him, according to Walter. After Bom waived his preliminary hearing, Associate Circuit Judge David Mann scheduled arraignment in Circuit Court for June 23. The defendant was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond.