AUGUSTA — Two men have been charged in connection with a home invasion in Manchester during which a woman was allegedly awakened in the middle of the night by a masked man threatening her with a knife and demanding money.

Ricky Allen Lane, 24, of Augusta and Michael Jo Ruth, 36, of Gardiner, were arrested Friday and charged with burglary, robbery, terrorizing, criminal mischief and theft, Kennebec County Sheriff Randall Liberty said.

Augusta police, who collaborated with the county on the investigation, also have charged Lane with two counts of Class A robbery in connection with robberies at two city convenience stores in recent weeks.

Lane and Ruth are being held at the Kennebec County Jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bail. Both are expected to make their initial court appearances today.

Liberty said Lane and Ruth broke into the Manchester home of Dwight Wheeler at 97 Prescott Road a little before 2 a.m., on Sept. 5.

Wheeler’s live-in companion, Charlotte Pinkham, 67, awoke to find a man standing over her with a four-inch knife demanding money, Liberty said. The man, described as approximately 5 feet 8 inches in height and weighing 200 pounds, was wearing a dark ski mask.

“As Pinkham attempted to turn on the light, the intruder knocked the bed stand lamp over and further demanded money,” Liberty said. “Pinkham gave her purse and he also took a jewelry box as he fled out the front door.”

Wheeler, 91, who sleeps in a different room and is hard of hearing, did not hear the intruder, Liberty said.

Lane was arrested after allegedly attempting to use one of the credit cards stolen during the robbery, according to an affidavit filed in Kennebec County Superior Court.

Lane and Ruth confessed when questioned by police, according to an affidavit filed in Kennebec County Superior Court by Kennebec County Sheriff Deputy Jesse Duda. Both claimed the other had the knife.

The men told police an acquaintance was familiar with Wheeler and had noticed the jewelry box inside his home, Duda said.

Lane also confessed to robbing the Big Apple on Stone Street on Aug. 28 and a Bangor Street Mobile on the Run that occurred on Sept. 1, according to an affidavit filed in Kennebec County Superior Court by Augusta Police Detectives Christopher Blodgett and Jason Cote.

Police said at the time that a store employee was assaulted during the Big Apple robbery and a weapon was displayed during the Mobile on the Run robbery.

Lane and Ruth were arrested around 3:30 p.m., Friday during a traffic stop on Water Street conducted by Augusta police and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. Ruth was driving and Lane was a passenger.

Clark said detectives are continuing to investigate and additional charges are expected.

“The cooperation between the Augusta Police Department and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office was critical in the investigation leading to Lane’s arrest,” Clark said.