MIFFLINTOWN - Two women charged with a robbery that took place in July at the Walnut Cheese Nook Store, located along state Route 35 in Milford Township, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday during a formal arraignment in the Juniata County Court of Common Pleas.

According to court documents, around 5 p.m. on July 29, a white-male suspect, between 15 and 20 years old, held a knife to the back of a female suspect, a white woman about 18 to 20 years old, and threatened her life if the cashier at the store did not give him money.

Police said the suspect believed to be a male was later identified as Sarah Gibbons, 23, of McAlisterville, and the female suspect, determined to be Gibbons' accomplice, was later identified as Ashley Beward, 22, also of McAlisterville.

Police said Gibbons and Beward entered the store together, and while Beward approached the cashier to ask her a question, Gibbons approached from behind and placed a knife to Beward's back, threatening to injure or kill Beward.

Police said a female juvenile employee at the store gave Gibbons the cash from the register. Gibbons then fled on foot and was seen running on Academia Road toward Port Royal, police said. Police said Beward stayed at the store for several minutes after the incident, acting as though she were a victim, but then fled after police were called.

Both women remain incarcerated in the Mifflin County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail each.

Beward is represented by Brian Baker and Gibbons is represented by Steven Manbeck.