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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Hanover Township man sentenced Tuesday on charges he robbed a Turkey Hill store blamed his actions on his wife&#8217;s death.</p><p>Joshua Stewart Pierce, 29, appeared before Luzerne County Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. saying he was &#8220;not in the right state of mind&#8221; when he robbed the Turkey Hill on Hazle Street on Aug. 9, 2017. Pierce said his wife died in April 2017.</p><p>City police say Pierce admitted to using the stolen money to buy heroin.</p><p>Pierce pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony charge of robbery under a deal with prosecutors May 9. </p><p>Sklarosky sentenced Pierce to nine to 24 months less one day in prison.</p><p>Because Pierce was given credit for 328 days time served at the county lockup, he was granted immediate parole.</p><p>His attorney, Stephen Geist, said Pierce accepted responsibility by pleading guilty.</p><p>Pierce said he has attended drug and alcohol counseling while imprisoned.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s been trying to stay on the straight path,&#8221; Geist said.</p><p>Police allege Pierce and a friend were inside Turkey Hill prior to the robbery about 2 a.m. After they left, Pierce gave the friend a ride to his residence on East Germania Street and returned to the store, parking on Nicholson Street.</p><p>Pierce claimed he entered the store wearing a hooded sweatshirt that concealed his face and demanded cash from a clerk. Pierce said he used the stolen money to buy food, a soda and heroin.</p><p>A Hanover Township officer identified Pierce from surveillance video.</p><p>Sklarosky ordered Pierce to pay restitution and not to patronize any Turkey Hill stores.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/web1_Joshua-Pierce-07032018.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pierce </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/web1_Joshua-Pierce-07032018.jpg</photo0><caption0>Pierce </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Hanover Township man sentenced in Turkey Hill robbery; blames wife’s death