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Carbon man admits to his part in robbery

A Carbon County man admitted in the county court on Tuesday to his part in a robbery that occurred in Lansford.

Robert Lee Clifford III, 23, of Lansford, who had a former address in Forty Fort, Luzerne County, pleaded to one count each of criminal conspiracy-robbery and receiving stolen property.Clifford was charged by borough police for an incident on Feb. 1 in the area of 109 E. Patterson St. Police were dispatched to the area for a reported theft. On scene officers were told by the two teenage victims that Clifford had robbed them and displayed a knife or a sledgehammer or ax. Taken was a purse, wallet and cash.According to the police report one of the victims said they were there to sell Suboxone. The report said Clifford punched the male teen in the face and then displayed the weapon.Judge Joseph J. Matika told Clifford, who has been in the county prison since his arrest, that under state sentencing guidelines he faces a minimum prison term of between 12 to 18 months and if the deadly weapon enhancement is invoked, the term is much longer. A term in that range is a state prison sentence.Matika deferred sentencing and ordered the adult probation office to prepare a presentence investigation report.