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Family of seven, new to the area, can use help from Valley with a Heart

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Bob Quarteroni: Circus to discontinue elephant act, and that’s good news worth trumpeting

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; A teenager accused of robbing three stores in Luzerne County during the month of December won&#8217;t be the only one charged, and his attorney said he will be &#8220;cooperating against&#8221; the co-defendant.</p><p>Daniel Plath, 18, appeared before Magisterial District Judge Paul Roberts Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. His attorney Mark Singer requested a continuance since Plath is also facing robbery charges in connection with two other robberies in Plains Township.</p><p>Singer said he wants to see what becomes of those hearings and proceed accordingly.</p><p>He added his client is cooperating with authorities in their investigation against Deborah Davis. Plains Township Police have charged Davis, 41, with three counts of conspiracy in connection with at least one of the robberies Plath is accused of committing.</p><p>According to criminal complaints, police were dispatched to the American Legion Post on East Carey Street in Plains Township at approximately 12:10 a.m. Oct. 7 for a reported robbery. The bartender of the legion told police she was depositing money bags into the safe when a man, later identified as Plath, allegedly grabbed her from behind.</p><p>Plath then allegedly had the woman help him collect the money, and the woman told police he allegedly had a knife.</p><p>On Jan. 4, police allege Plath arrived at Plains Township Police Headquarters and allegedly confessed to the robbery, along with two others &#8212; one at Uni Mart on North Main Street in Plains Township on Dec. 7, and another at K.J. Pickle Barrel on Main Street in Edwardsville Dec. 18.</p><p>Plath allegedly told police he had been living with Davis at her residence on Hudson Street in October, and was dating her daughter. Plath told police Davis used to work at the American Legion and asked him to rob it &#8220;because she needed money.&#8221;</p><p>Davis also allegedly provided Plath details about the building and where to hide and threatened to kick Plath out of her residence if he didn&#8217;t commit the robbery.</p><p>On Oct. 7, Davis allegedly drove Plath to the American Legion and parked across the street until Plath went inside. The pair allegedly planned that Davis would flash her high beams to indicate the main hallway was clear for Plath to enter, and that Plath would return to her residence after the robbery.</p><p>Police obtained video footage, which allegedly showed Plath being dropped off across the street from the American Legion in a maroon Ford Escape on the night of the robbery. Surveillance later allegedly shows that same vehicle flash its high beams before leaving the area.</p><p>Police said Plath allegedly left the American Legion with approximately $1,500 which he later gave to Davis.</p><p>Plath is scheduled to appear before Roberts again for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Feb. 3. He is also scheduled for hearings before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Spagnuolo at 8:48 a.m. Jan. 26.</p><p>Davis was arraigned on her charges Monday and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Spagnuolo at 8:45 a.m. Jan. 19.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Dalton Plath arrives at a preliminary hearing in Kingston Wednesday afternoon.  Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL011416plath.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dalton Plath arrives at a preliminary hearing in Kingston Wednesday afternoon.  Clark Van Orden | Times Leader </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Preliminary hearing for Daniel Plath continued, more charges filed for string of robberies