Jeannette teen charged as adult in convenience store robbery

A Jeannette teenager was charged as an adult Tuesday in connection with a convenience store robbery, according to court papers.

Demetri Kaleb Sensenich, 17, told investigators that he robbed the Harrison Avenue Cogo’s Monday and then went to school in the city. Sensenich is charged with robbery, gun violations, aggravated assault, theft, reckless endangerment and related offenses.

Jeannette Police issued a plea Monday afternoon seeking help in identifying a man in surveillance images who reportedly robbed the convenience store at gunpoint earlier in the day. Officers were called to the store at 9:30 a.m. by two employees, according to a criminal complaint.

The suspect walked around the store, picked up a snack cake to purchase and as he was being rung up, pointed the gun at a clerk and demanded cash. He took the money and fled, according to police.

Eleven hours later, Sensenich was taken to the police station by family members. He told investigators that he waited outside the store for about an hour working up the nerve to rob it, according to court papers.

As he fled the store, Sensenich told police he saw officers responding and starting ditching some of the dark-colored clothing he had on during the robbery before getting to school.

Sensenich told investigators that he burned the $312 he got in the robbery, according to court papers.

He is being held on $25,000 bond, according to online court records. Juvenile defendants are housed at the county’s Regional Youth Services Center in Hempfield. Sensenich did not have an attorney listed in online court records. He will turn 18 in July.