A Watertown man faces up to 5½ years in state prison after admitting Friday in Jefferson County Court that he possessed heroin in March.

Ethan P. Sargent, 30, also faces up to three additional years of supervision upon his release in a guilty plea to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He admitted that he possessed heroin with the intent to sell the drug March 8 at his residence at 677 Bronson St., Apt. 4. His plea cancels a trial scheduled to begin Aug. 3. Sentencing was set for Sept. 5.

Judge Kim H. Martusewicz is expected to mandate that Mr. Sargent be sentenced to the prison system’s shock incarceration program. He would spend six months in prison and then serve the balance of his sentence on parole.

In other court activity:

Nichole M. Bell, 21, of 116 Keyes Ave., Apt. 4, pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery. She admitted that on May 2 she forcibly stole merchandise from Kmart, 21110 Pioneer Plaza. Police said at the time that an employee was injured in an attempt to prevent the shoplifting. She is expected to be sentenced Sept. 4 to six months in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, followed by five years’ probation. Charges of second-degree robbery and petit larceny remain pending against an alleged accomplice, Michael S. Hill, 32, Watertown.

Sharonica E. Barber, 23, Utica, was sentenced to 1½ to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty May 9 to fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. She admitted that on Oct. 6, with others, she possessed more than $1,000 worth of merchandise stolen from T.J. Maxx in Watertown. She was sentenced as a second felony offender, having been convicted in Oneida County in 2009 of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s website. She was sentenced to a year in prison, according to the site.

Brandon T. Thompson, 24, of 11385 Circle Drive, Chaumont, was sentenced to an unspecified amount of time served at the PSB and five years’ probation for third-degree burglary. He pleaded guilty May 25, admitting that on Dec. 2, he entered the town of Clayton residence of Lewis Cheevers with the intent to steal something. Police said at the time of Mr. Thompson’s arrest that a safe was stolen from the County Route 9 home.

Alberto A. Mattar, 31, Wappingers Falls, was sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty March 28 to first-degree attempted criminal possession of marijuana. He admitted that on June 30, while aided and abetted by another, he tried to possess more than 10 pounds of marijuana in the town of Theresa. At the time of his arrest, state police alleged that he and a Stormville woman had 31 pounds of the drug in a vehicle’s trunk during a traffic stop on Route 411. Mr. Mattar’s probation supervision will be transferred to Dutchess County. Charges against the woman, Donata J. Martinez, have been dismissed.

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