A Somerville man has been indicted and arraigned on charges alleging he robbed three convenience stores while armed, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Michael Wallace, 44, of Somerville, was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on charges of armed robbery (3 counts), assault with a dangerous weapon, making threats, and being a habitual offender (4 counts).  Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.

His next court date is December 12 for a dangerousness hearing.

According to authorities, at approximately 8:50 pm, on June 6, 2011, Somerville Police responded to a convenience store on Highland Avenue in Somerville for reports of an armed robbery.  Upon arrival, authorities met with the victim who informed them that a white male had entered the store and asked for a package of cigarettes.  The victim stated that when he turned to get the cigarettes, the defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a firearm from his waistband and told the victim to give him the money that was inside of the cash register.  The victim obliged and the defendant fled the scene with the money.

On June 14, at approximately 3:19 pm, Medford Police responded to a convenience store located on Central Avenue in Medford for reports of an armed robbery.  The victim stated that a white male wearing sunglasses and a hooded sweatshirt had entered the store.  The defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a firearm and demanded money from the cash and lottery registers.  The victim provided the defendant with the money and he fled the scene.

The following day, at approximately 3:57 pm, Winchester Police responded to a convenience store on Main Street in Winchester.  A brother and sister told authorities that they were working when a white male walked up to the counter and asked for a package of cigarettes.  The defendant is alleged to have pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the brother and demanded money from the lottery machine.  The victim gave the defendant the money inside the register.  As the defendant was leaving the store, it is alleged that he threatened to kill the victim’s sister.

All three stores had surveillance video that captured the robberies.  On June 27, the video from the Somerville robbery aired on a local television station.  Authorities immediately received information identifying the suspect as the defendant, Michael Wallace.  That day, authorities arrested the defendant in the area of Grant Street in Somerville.  Authorities conducted a subsequent search of the defendant’s mother’s home and recovered clothing belonging to the defendant which matched clothing worn in the robberies as well as an air gun which resembles the weapon used during the robberies.

The defendant was arraigned in Somerville District Court on the Somerville case on June 28 and on the Medford case on July 1, where he was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing.  On July 7, the defendant was ordered held without bail following a dangerousness hearing.  He was indicted by a Middlesex grand jury on September 22.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Nicole Allain.  This case was investigated by Somerville Police Department, Medford Police Department, and Winchester Police Department.