A Schuylkill County man has been charged with a string of robberies that occurred at numerous locations during the month of April in Schuylkill and Berks counties.

State police Trooper Tyler R. Brackman, of the Schuylkill Haven barracks criminal investigation unit, filed nine counts each of felony 1 robbery, and felony 3 robbery and related counts against John James Bennett Jr., 32, of Cressona.

In addition Bennett has also been charged with felony 3 receiving stolen property and misdemeanor counts: 9 counts each of theft, simple assault, terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person.

Brackman said the total amount stolen through the course of the robberies was $4,594.97.

Seven of the nine robberies occurred at Schuylkill County locations and the remaining two in Berks County. The Schuylkill County businesses victim of the crimes included Mobil station in Cressona on April 8 and 25; Uni-Mart in West Mahanoy Township, in April 20; Turkey Hill in Butler Township, on April 21; the Fast Fill in Schuylkill Haven, on April 26; Speedway in Pine Grove Township, April 26; and the Auburn Food Mart, West Brunswick Township, April 26. Berks locations were Bethel Food Shop, Bethel Township, on April 18; and Power Gas and Food Mart, Strausstown, on April 27.

Bennett is accused of entering the various service stations with his face concealed by a mask and his hood up, brandishing a handgun and demanding cigarettes and cash from the clerks working at the businesses. Bennett led state police on a high-speed chase which ended when he struck an unoccupied state police cruiser. The chase resulted in several felony, misdemeanor and summary charges.

Bennett was arraigned before District Judge James Ferrier, of Orwigsburg, and remanded to the county prison in Pottsville, unable to post $500,000 straight cash bail. Prior to arraignment, Bennett was an inmate in the county prison on the charges related to the chase.