A 19-year-old Lawrence man on Wednesday afternoon pleaded guilty to three counts in connection with a December robbery at Walmart, 3300 Iowa.

William O. Paterson entered the pleas to aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated arson.

Paterson admitted to using a plastic BB gun to scare away clerks and grab cash from a register in Walmart’s money center.

Prosecutors also accuse Lonnie S. Schaefer, 22, of participating in the Dec. 13 robbery. Paterson told District Judge Michael Malone he had suggested conspirators throw a bottle of gasoline on the roof of a building across town to create a diversion. Prosecutors have said co-defendants threw the object at McDonald’s, 1309 W. Sixth St., but the damage to the roof was minor, prosecutors have said.

Schaefer has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday. Four other co-defendants are accused of serving as lookouts for the robbery.

Assistant Douglas County District Attorney James McCabria said prosecutors did not believe Paterson has a prior criminal record. McCabria also said prosecutors would recommend Malone run his sentences on the three counts concurrently, meaning he likely faces just less than five years in prison.

District Judge Michael Malone scheduled a sentencing for Paterson for July 1 and revoked Paterson’s bond.