17-year-old accused of criminal robbery

SHENANDOAH — The victim of a Mahanoy City robbery testified in court Thursday that he complied with the demands of masked men who jumped into his car out of fear.

Stephen Cole, 24, of Mount Carmel, testified in Magisterial District Court Anthony Kilker’s office during a preliminary hearing for a 17-year-old Mahanoy City teenager.

All charges were stayed by Schuylkill County District Court on common grounds. The teenager participated via video from the Schuylkill County Jail, where he has been held since his Oct. 8 arrest. Bail was set at $100,000 cash at the time. The teenager is charged with robbery, conspiracy, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police.

The teenager is charged as an adult. The other attacker has not been named.

The incident in question happened shortly after 2 a.m. on Oct. 25, 2023, while Cole was waiting to pick up a friend after a party, according to testimony. He said he was sitting in his car (a 2018 Hyundai Elantra) with the engine off when both individuals, who were wearing masks, wanted to walk away.

After they got in, he said the gunman in the back seat held a gun at him while the other sat in the passenger seat.

They instructed him to drive to the Cocoa Hut, which is located at 101 E. Center St., where they then told Cole to get out of the car.

“I felt the knife on my throat,” Cole said of one of the attackers.

One of them searched him, took his phone and $50 from his car, Cole said.

The gunman who was in the back seat with the gun then got into the car, putting it in reverse and ordering the other gunman to get in, Cole testified.

Cole ran to the Cocoa Hut. Kevin Wormley said he was working at the business when Cole came in, appearing under “extreme duress” and told him what had happened.

The police were later called. Derek Weicikosky and another officer responded to the Cocoa Hut.

Cole’s car was found at 12th and Market streets in the neighborhood, and state police tested it for DNA evidence. Fingerprints matching those of the 17-year-old were found on the driver’s side of the vehicle, Weicikosky testified.