TREMONT - Hegins Township police filed charges against a 21-year-old Ashland woman for allegedly helping a man rob Tri-Valley Pharmacy, Valley View, by pretending to be a victim.
Leanne Micklesavage, 420 Oakland Ave., who is jailed in Schuylkill County Prison on unrelated offenses, was video-arraigned Friday on charges of two felony counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit retail theft.
Magisterial District Judge Carol A. Pankake, Tremont, set bail at 10 percent of $25,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for 2:10 p.m. Feb. 23.
Hegins Township police Sgt. Beau Yarmush charged Micklesavage with assisting in the May 17, 2011, robbery that netted 200 20-milligram oxycodone tablets and 117 10-milligram oxycodone tablets with a total value of $272.36.
Yarmush said that Micklesavage entered the store about 12:50 p.m., looked around and then bought candy before leaving.
At 1:25 p.m., Micklesavage re-entered the store and went directly to the pharmacy counter.
Yarmush said that seconds later, a man entered the store with a bandana covering his nose and mouth and carrying a silver knife with a four-inch blade.
The man then placed his hand around Micklesavage's neck and held the knife to her throat, telling employees, "Give me the oxycodone 30s now," Yarmush said.
Yarmush said the man fled after getting the medication. Employees told police that Micklesavage wanted to leave immediately but was told to stay inside the pharmacy until authorities arrived.
When interviewed, Micklesavage provided a false name, Samantha Snyder, and a false address of 112 Main St., Frackville.
Yarmush said Micklesavage was uncooperative and would not provide a description of the man who held the knife to her throat.
Yarmush said Micklesavage was allowed to make a telephone call and records show that call was to a cellphone used by Charles Frantz Jr., who was arrested for his role in a similar robbery at Bracey's Pharmacy, Ashland, on Feb. 10, 2011, Yarmush said.
Yarmush also said the vehicle Micklesavage was in resembled the vehicle used after the Bracey robbery. Micklesavage was also charged in connection with the Bracey robbery for allegedly driving the getaway car.
Frantz was also charged in September for attempting a knifepoint robbery at Community Pharmacy, Mount Carmel.
Yarmush said an investigation determined Frantz and Micklesavage have been dating for about five years and Frantz is a person of interest in the Tri-Valley Pharmacy robbery.
Hegins Township police Chief Steven Lohr said Monday that the investigation into the robbery is ongoing and that more arrests are expected.