A 37-year-old Gloucester man faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty in Gloucester Circuit Court Tuesday of robbing the Court House area 7-Eleven store on Route 17 in December.

William Johnathan Christner of Roaring Springs Road also pleaded guilty to using a firearm while committing a robbery and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony. Those convictions carry mandatory sentences totaling five years. Judge R. Bruce Long accepted the pleas and set Christner’s sentencing for Sept. 6.

Gloucester Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert D. Hicks said Christner entered the 7-Eleven around 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 and approached clerk Mark Perkins. He said Christner demanded Perkins open the cash register and pulled a gun while telling the clerk he would shoot him if he pressed an alarm button.

Hicks said the clerk gave Christner about $115, mostly in $5 bills, and he departed the store. Hicks said Christner was trying to escape on a bicycle through the n...