Hearing set for man charged in robberies

NILES -- A preliminary hearing is scheduled for today in municipal court for a 39-year-old Niles man charged in a series of robberies.
Robert McClane, of Franklin Street, was arrested over the weekend on a charge of aggravated robbery and three counts of robbery.
He is being held in Trumbull County Jail in lieu of a $60,000 bond.
Police charged him with the Sept. 8 robbery of an employee of the Circle K (former Dairy Mart) on South Main Street and the Sept. 9 robbery of a clerk at Fuel Mart on West Park Avenue.
He is also charged with the Sept. 13 robbery of a Niles man outside Sparkle Market on North Main Street and the Sept. 11 robbery of a 37-year-old man on Mason Street. McClane is accused of putting a gun to the victim's head and taking the keys to his van.
Police said they are attempting to link him to other robberies.