A 19-year-old man reportedly told police he robbed a Rice Lake bank to get money to pay off court obligations so he wouldn’t go to jail, according to Eau Claire County Court records.

Jesse G. Sweeter, 19, of 831 N. Main St., Rice Lake, was arrested July 16 after law enforcement officers responding to an armed robbery at Sterling Bank in Rice Lake saw him running and stopped him.

Sweeter had a bag that contained money and a handgun.

Two other men living at the same address — Kyle W. Langner, 22, and Ricky D. White, 25 — also were arrested that day.

Langner is the first of the three to be charged in connection with the armed robberies of three Eau Claire convenience stores.

On Monday, he made his initial appearance in Eau Claire County Court on three felony counts of party to the crime of armed robbery. His bail was set at $50,000 cash, and he was ordered not to have contact with Sweeter, White, the clerks at the convenience stores that were robbed or any Eau Claire County convenience store or gas station. Langner is scheduled to return to court Sept. 2.

According to court records:

After being arrested in Rice Lake, Sweeter told authorities he was solely responsible for that robbery and said the motive was to get money to pay off court obligations in lieu of returning to jail.

Sweeter said he, Langner and White were responsible for robbing two convenience stores in Eau Claire on the same night — July 2. The Holiday Gas Station, 2205 Eddy Lane, was robbed at 10:57 p.m., and the Mega Holiday, 2308 E. Clairemont Ave., was robbed at 11:51 p.m.

Sweeter admitted he was the one who went into the first store, where he took $457 from the clerk at gunpoint. He said White robbed the second store, where the clerk told police the robber displayed a handgun and pointed it at her before making off with more than $100.

Sweeter told a detective he wasn’t involved in the third armed robbery in Eau Claire, which occurred at 9:14 p.m. July 11 at a second Mega Holiday, 2119 Cameron St., because he was in jail.

When Sweeter got out, he spoke to Langner and White and said he was told they were responsible. A clerk told police the robber made off with about $193.

Charges haven’t been filed in Eau Claire County against Sweeter or White in connection with the convenience store robberies.