A Carbon County man was sentenced to a long state prison term on Tuesday afternoon in the county court after pleading guilty to a robbery charge.

Matthew E. Hammel, 37, of Lehighton, was sentenced by Judge Steven R. Serfass to serve a total of 60 to 120 months in a state correctional institution.

Hammel was charged with an incident on Oct. 1, 2019, in Lehighton at the Domino’s Pizza Shop.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by patrolman Joel Gulla:

At 12:29 a.m. police were dispatched to Domino’s Pizza for the report of an armed robbery. Gulla spoke with a female employee who said she had just been robbed at gunpoint.

The employee said that while getting into her vehicle, a man wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a shiny mask, ripped open the car door and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at her and demanded she hand over the deposit bag that contained $276. She said that in fear for her life, she threw the deposit bag at the man, who grabbed it and ran from the scene toward Main Lane.

Police determined that the man was most likely a former employee who had previous knowledge of the deposit times and travel route. Police conducted a search on the travel path which led to Hammel’s residence in the 100 block of Bankway Street.

A black sweatshirt and mask were found in the grass in the area of the bypass and Bankway Street directly across from the suspect’s residence. At the residence, police located Hammel, who was sweating profusely and bleeding from his left arm. A woman at the house identified the sweatshirt and mask as belonging to Hammel.

Police also found the deposit bag and stolen cash at the house.

Hammel was taken to the police station and admitted to robbing Domino’s to support his drug habit and support his family. Hammel also admitted to pointing the gun at the female employee, but said it was a BB gun that he used, and not a real gun, and that after the robbery, he threw the gun into the grass nearby.

Defense attorney Eric Wiltrout, of the public defender’s office, said his client admitted his guilt when confronted by police. He said because of drug issues Hammel needed money to support his habit and also support his family.

Hammel said his time in jail since his arrest “opened his eyes.” He apologized to “Domino’s people and others I have hurt.” He also mentioned the weapon was a BB gun.

However, Serfass said the victim “didn’t know that” and thought it was a real gun.

Serfass said he could not ignore the seriousness of the crime and its effect on the victim and community. He rejected the request to sentence Hammel to the low end of state sentencing guidelines, 40 months, instead sentencing to the high end of the guidelines at 60 months.

He also ordered Hammel to get a drug and alcohol evaluation, zero tolerance imposed on drug or alcohol use, pay court costs of about $1,000 and have no contact with the victim.

Hammel, who has been in prison since the day of the incident, was given credit for 628 days already served.