Charged: 29-year-old man accused in gas station armed robbery; charges pending in another case

OZAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- Criminal charges have been filed against 29-year-old Brandon Baumhardt in connection with the armed robbery of Big Joe's gas station in Fredonia.

It happened in December 2014.

Brandon Baumhardt

Brandon Baumhardt of Random Lake is charged with armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon.

He was charged on Tuesday, March 17th.

Ozaukee County Sheriff's officials say Baumhardt was the lead suspect in the Big Joe's armed robbery. He was arrested by West Bend police in connection with a bank robbery that occurred on January 10th. Charges for that incident are pending.

Following his arrest by West Bend PD, Ozaukee County Sheriff's officials say detectives discovered that on the night of the bank robbery, an associate of Baumhardt's drove him to Milwaukee to buy heroin. When he noticed Baumhardt had a considerable amount of money on him, he says Baumhardt told him he got it when he robbed a bank -- saying he didn't get enough money when he robbed Big Joe's.

Sheriff's detectives were able to place Baumhardt near Big Joe's minutes after the armed robbery through cell phone tower mapping. A witness reported seeing Baumhardt rob the gas station clerk and then leave the gas station with a brown bag in his hand -- fleeing the scene in a vehicle.

Baumhardt is being held in the Washington County Jail on $25,000 bail.

He faces a total of up to 30 years in prison and 20 years extended supervision for both Ozaukee charges.

Baumhardt will make his initial appearance in court on April 16th.