Arrest made in robbery of store

LOS BANOS -- A 25-year-old Los Banos man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of robbing a Stevinson convenience store, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

Suspect Samuel Serna was taken into custody around 1:30 p.m. after detectives served a search warrant at a residence in the 800 block of Nickel Street in Los Banos, according to Deputy Tom Mackenzie, sheriff's spokesman.

While at the residence, deputies discovered masks that were allegedly used in the robbery. MacKenzie said a second suspect is still sought.

The robbery happened Monday around 5 a.m. at the Corner Market, located at the corner of Third Avenue and Highway 165 in Stevinson, MacKenzie said.

The robbers were wearing masks and demanded cash from a clerk. One suspect was wearing what was described as a stocking on his head, while the other was wearing a Halloween mask.

The robbers took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register, in addition to taking the clerk's wallet.

Serna was booked into the Merced County Jail in lieu of $65,000 bail.

-- Victor A. Patton