Troup County sheriff’s investigators have charged a man who allegedly robbed and severely assaulted a construction worker at the Kia Motors site in West Point.

Stacy Raymond Potts, 27, of LaGrange was charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery.

A cleaning person found Paul Wheatley, 53, of West Virginia semiconscious in his room at West Point Motel on U.S. 29 about 8 a.m. Sept. 14.

Wheatley, who had been living at the motel, was beaten about the face and head with the base of a car jack, said sheriff’s investigator Sgt. Kelli Ellington. Robbery appeared to be the motive because the victim’s wallet and money were missing.

Wheatley had been in critical condition, but was moved to a regular room at Columbus Medical Center.

Potts has been in jail since Sept. 18 when he was arrested in Carrollton in connection with two Troup County burglaries, including one at a residence across from the motel. An alleged burglary accomplice told investigators that Potts was responsible for the motel incident, Ellington said.

“He had been a suspect all along and then we found it out he (allegedly) did a burglary at a residence across from the motel,” she said.

A search of Potts’ car turned up stolen items from a burglary, she said.

Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.