A 22-year-old Slidell man pleaded guilty to armed robbery Thursday and was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a holdup of a truck stop in Slidell earlier this year.

Mac Powe entered the plea moments before his trial was expected to begin in state District Court Judge Reginald Badeaux’s courtroom, District Attorney Walter Reed spokesman Rick Wood said.

“He starts looking around, and it comes down to it, and he decides to enter the plea in hopes the court will show some mercy,” Wood said. “And that’s true. The court always shows mercy if the defendant tells the truth.” Powe faced between 10 to 99 years in prison under Louisiana law.

Powe, arrested March 25, is one of three people who allegedly conspired to rob the TA Travel Center in early March this year.

Co-defendants Sydni J. Abernathy, a 22-year-old Slidell cashier at the truck stop, and Jeffery Jacobs, 32, also of Slidell, are scheduled for court hearings, likely in November, Wood said. The robbery unfolded when a customer said Abernathy allegedly used her phone to text someone and routinely answered her ringing phone and hung up, “acting strange,” Slidell Police Capt. Kevin Foltz said.

“That’s when (the victim) heard the bell ring on the door,” Foltz said.

Turning around, the victim saw two gunmen clutching black semi-automatic pistols burst through the door and point a pistol in his face, Foltz said.

The victim was robbed of a watch, while Powe stole and Jacobs allegedly stole an undetermined amount of money from the cash register before fleeing, Foltz said.

The victim immediately told the cashier to lock the door and call police, but she stalled and “never appeared upset,” Foltz said.

“It was an inside job, so to speak,” Foltz said, alleging Abernathy’s involvement.

Later, Abernathy allegedly told detectives “she wanted to make sure they had time to get away,” Foltz said.

Locating her cell phone, Slidell Police unearthed an imcoming text that cemented her arrest. “Is this a good time to rob the place?” Foltz said it read.

Jacobs, arrested Sept. 8, and Abernathy, arrested March 24, are both charged with armed robbery, according to court records.

Assistant District Attorneys Julie Knight and Leigh Anne Wall handled Powe’s prosecution.