A Lehighton man pleaded guilty in Carbon County court on Tuesday to robbery and other criminal charges.

John Nicholas Eremus, 52, entered guilty pleas before Judge Steven R. Serfass to one count each of robbery, as a felony one, unauthorized use of an automobile, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.The robbery charge stems from an incident on Oct. 18, 2014, when Eremus entered the First National Pharmacy along North First Street Lehighton and demanded oxycodone pills while displaying a handgun. It was later learned the handgun was plastic.The authorized use charge stems from an Oct. 19, 2014, incident when he took a 2000 Dodge Caravan owned by his mother without her permission. He was found in the van some time later along Bake Oven Road, in East Penn Township, slumped over the wheel, which led to the DUI charge filed by state police at Lehighton. The drug count stems from a July 20, 2015, incident in Lehighton when he was found in the area of 152 S. Second St., with oxycodone.Defense attorney Jennifer Lynn Rapa, of the public defender's office, said her client suffers from mental health issues and spent time in the Norristown hospital mental health facility. He is currently an inmate in the county prison.Serfass deferred sentencing.