A McAdoo woman accused of robbing a Sugarloaf convenient store and gas station Sunday afternoon faces criminal charges.
Valerie A. Weston, 27, claimed she had a gun while robbing Joe's Choice Convenient Mart at state Route 93 and Rock Glen Road at 12:15 p.m. Sunday, state police at Hazleton said.
Weston was charged with robbery and theft by unlawful taking at an arraignment Monday before Magisterial District Judge Daniel O'Donnell. Unable to immediately post $25,000 bail, Weston was remanded to prison, according to a court docket.
According to the criminal complaint:
Police said Weston walked into the store, took an iced tea carton from a cooler and placed the carton on the checkout counter, grabbed the clerk's wrist and demanded money. The clerk initially told Weston, "no," but Weston told the clerk she had a gun. The clerk began taking money out of the cash register, when Weston leaned over the counter and began helping herself to stacks of bills, police said. Weston stole $221, plus the iced tea, police said.
Weston was found by police at her McAdoo home and taken into custody. Police said Weston admitted to committing the crime to fuel her drug habit. Inside her vehicle, officers found a dark hooded sweatshirt with light-colored stripes on the sleeves, which appeared to be the same attire captured on surveillance video.