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Three Teens Get Jail For Deli Robbery

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Three teenage girls charged with first-degree robbery last September in

connection with the armed robbery of Hawleyville Deli have reached plea

bargain agreements with the state that call for prison sentences for each.

In Danbury Superior Court March 31, Laura McNamara, 18, of 6 Driftway Drive

pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery. In a plea bargain agreement with the

state, she agreed to a 12-year prison sentence suspended after five years.

Also, Tiffany Thomas, 19, of 6 Driftway Drive pleaded guilty to first-degree

robbery and agreed to the same plea bargain terms, according to court

documents.

A third girl, Pamela J. Kiska, 17, of 40-A« Mt Pleasant Road, had cooperated

with investigators in the case. She has pleaded guilty to first-degree

robbery. Under the terms of her plea bargain agreement, she would receive a

ten-year prison term suspended after 3« years.

Each of the three teenagers has the right to plead for less prison time when

sentencing takes place July 1.

About 8 pm, September 18, when Hawleyville Deli was about to close for

business, three disguised teenaged girls carrying baseball bats entered the

building and robbed three store employees.

Hawleyville Deli is a relatively isolated convenience store on Hawleyville

Road, near the Housatonic Railroad grade crossing.

The three teens, who were wearing baseball hats and bandanas over their faces,

carried baseball bats into the deli and ordered three young store employees to

lie on the floor. One of the three girls shouted that a robbery was in

progress.

One store employee ran from the deli to call police.

One young male employee was then sprayed in the face with the chemical

irritant Mace by one of the girls, police said. That male also was restrained

with duct tape. The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps later transported the

injured male to Danbury Hospital where he was treated and released.

The girls threatened the store employees with baseballs bats as one of the

accused stole money from a cash register and a Lotto cash drawer. The three

teenage girls then fled on foot to a getaway car.

Court documents indicate $1,724 in cash and $488 worth of cigarettes were

stolen in the robbery. Police recovered almost all of the money.

After an investigation by five police officers, all three teenage girls were

arrested between 11 pm and midnight the night of the incident, police said.

According to court documents, McNamara, a disgruntled former employee of the

deli, planned the robbery over a two-week period. None of the girls has a

prior criminal record.

At the urging of her parents, Kiska provided police with a full confession

about the incident, according to court papers.

First-degree robbery is a Class B felony that carries a minimum sentence of

five years in prison.