L-R: Cory Schmitz, Michael Thorpe and Beau Wastel (Photos courtesy Outagamie County Sheriff's Office)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – An alleged accomplice in the robbery of a Grand Chute coin store employee by a man disguised in a wig and dress pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Cory Schmitz, 35, faces five counts, including being party to armed robbery for the Aug. 10 incident.
No trial date was set. He returns to court June 25 for a pre-trial conference.
According to criminal complaints, Beau Wastel walked into Affordable Rare Coins in Grand Chute on Aug. 10. He allegedly asked to see a baseball card in a case, and when the employee bent over to open the case, prosecutors say Wastel hit him in the head with the wrench. The employee ran out of the store and Wastel allegedly ran after him, continuing to swing the wrench at him.
Surveillance video showed Wastel then going back into the store, smashing a display case, and running out with property from the case.
After police issued a news release, they say several tips led them to Wastel. In an interview, Wastel said that Cory Schmitz introduced him to Michael Thorpe. Thorpe, 29, of Appleton, “told Wastel he had a ‘lick’ that was going to be easy and they would get approximately $15,000,” according to the criminal complaint. Thorpe and Wastel agreed to split the proceeds, prosecutors say. Schmitz, 34, of Appleton, allegedly received a few coins for introducing Wastel and Thorpe to each other.
Thorpe told police he pawned his coins, using a fake ID, and received $300.
Wastel returns to court Wednesday for a pre-trial conference. Thorpe is scheduled to stand trial May 27.
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