NORWICH – A man who has been incarcerated since January for allegedly robbing a local gas station faced the Supreme Court Judge Wednesday to take a deal offered by the District Attorney’s office.

Bernie Infante, Route 8, McDonough, was charged with third degree robbery and petit larceny after allegedly stealing beer from a local Valero station. Following a brief pursuit by a store employee, Infante upgraded his crime by telling the worker “get away or I will shoot you,” thus making the crime a felony.

When addressed by Judge Kevin M. Dowd Wednesday to repeat his account of the night the crime took place, Inafante’s answer reflected he was innocent of the robbery charge. “If he feels he is still innocent, he should go to trial,” said District Attorney Joseph McBride.