Mitchell Ferguson

A West Sunbury man was sentenced to county jail in Butler County Court on Thursday, after being charged with robbing a Brady Township discount store in August.

Mitchell J. Ferguson, 29, was sentenced to 11½ to 23 months in Butler County Prison by Judge William Shaffer.

His parole will also be followed by five years of county probation. Ferguson was also ordered to pay court costs and $213 in restitution.

Ferguson pleaded guilty Feb. 12 to felony robbery.

Shaffer also sentenced him on a probation violation following a 2014 case, to 3 to 6 months in jail followed by 13 months of probation to run concurrently with the robbery case.

Ferguson was initially charged with both first-degree and third-degree felony counts of robbery as well as misdemeanor theft.

Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Simon at the time of the plea said the top count was withdrawn in the plea deal because no weapon was used in the crime.

State police arrested Ferguson after he robbed the Dollar General on Route 8 in Brady Township on Aug. 27, 2017.

A clerk told police that the robber, wearing a Led Zeppelin shirt and blue jeans, walked up to the counter and demanded money.

“I am going to need you to open up your register and give me all of the money in it,” he told the clerk, according to court documents.

While the clerk opened the cash register, the robber told her, “I am not playing. I don't want to hurt you.” The man reached over the counter and snatched $213 that was in the drawer, once the register was open, police said. He ran out the front door.