A Lehighton man admitted his part in a robbery of a Lansford store. He was one of six defendants to enter a guilty plea in Carbon County court on Friday before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

One of fiveScott Heffelfinger, 26, pleaded to one count of theft for his part in the robbery of the Turkey Hill store on Aug. 28, 2013. He was one of five people charged in the incident and one of two who actually entered the store during the early morning hours and took a bank bag and a pack of cigarettes.Heffelfinger pleaded guilty to robbery on Jan. 3 but later filed a petition to withdraw his plea, which was granted by the court.He entered a new plea bargain that reduced the charge to theft while the robbery count and others were dropped.Borough police charged that Heffelfinger and John A. Simonson, 20, of Lansford, entered the store and demanded money from the clerk, police said. Heffelfinger also displayed a knife during the robbery but never actually threatened the clerk with it. The others charged with Heffelfinger and Simonson were Ray Ziegenfuss III, 19, Nicole Christman, 19, both of Lansford, and Alyssa Gryzik, 19, of Summit Hill. Heffelfinger is the last defendant to plea in the case.Serfass sentenced him to serve six to one day less 24 months in the county prison with credit for 374 days already served, and immediately paroled him.He was also ordered to make restitution of $66.80, his share of the total amount taken, get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and render 100 hours of community service.Other pleasOther defendants who entered guilty pleas included:Derrick Ryan Feller, 34, of Jim Thorpe, pleaded to one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.He was arrested on July 16 by state police at Lehighton along Center Street in Jim Thorpe following a vehicle stop. Troopers attempted to stop him as he operated an all-terrain vehicle on the road. He fled at a high rate of speed but was later stopped. He then attempted to flee on foot. A pistol was found on him but he had a license to carry it.Serfass sentenced him to time served (five days) to 12 months in prison on the fleeing charge, probation for 12 months on the resisting charge consecutive to the first count, probation of six months on the possession of paraphernalia charge consecutive to the other counts, and a $300 fine on the possession count.He was also ordered to get a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, and render a total of 125 hours of community service.Jamila Raynor, 29, of Philadelphia, pleaded to one count of each of illegal use of a communication device and possession of a controlled substance.She was arrested on Dec. 12, 2013, in the area of 851 Delaware Aver. by Palmerton police. Police said she was selling heroin in the area.Serfass deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report. Raynor has been an inmate in the county prison since her arrest.Deanna Steigerwalt, 23, of Palmerton, pleaded to one count of simple assault, with a charge of aggravated assault dropped in a plea bargain.She was arrested on Jan. 1 when police responded to 851 Delaware Ave. in Palmerton for a domestic incident. She admitted assaulting her mother, Kay Steigerwalt. She also admitted to a drug addiction problem.Serfass sentenced her to time served (54 days) to one day less 24 months in prison, and ordered her to get a D&A evaluation, zero tolerance on D&A use, and rendered 100 hours of community service.Jeffrey Wentz, 46, of Lehighton, pleaded to one count each of retail theft and possession of a controlled substance.He was arrested on May 5 at the Dollar General Store, North First Street, by Lehighton police for taking $5 worth of merchandise. When he was taken into custody, police found illegal drugs on him. He has a prior criminal record.Serfass sentenced him to serve six to 12 months in prison on the possession count and three to 12 months on the theft charge, with both running concurrent to each other and concurrent with a probation violation term he is serving now in the county prison. He was also ordered to get a D&A evaluation and render a total of 75 hours of community service when released on parole. He was granted work release privileges.Philip Thompson, 44, of Summit Hill, pleaded to one count of persistent disorderly conduct.He was arrested by Summit Hill police for an incident on Feb. 7. He was found throwing snow onto East Holland Street. When police told him to stop because it was illegal to dump snow onto the street he became unruly and cursed at the officers.Serfass sentenced him to serve 30 days to 12 months in prison and render 50 hours of community service when released. The term runs concurrent with a six- to 12-month prison term he is currently serving on other charges which was imposed by Judge Joseph J. Matika on July 8.Each defendant sentenced must also pay court costs, which average about $1,000, and pay a $50 per month supervision fee while on probation or parole.