One of two gunmen was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison in connection with the shooting, beating and robbery of a gas station clerk in Marengo in 2021.
Antonio Pedrote, 30, of Chicago, was charged in May 2021 with armed robbery, three counts of armed violence, armed habitual criminal, burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, theft and six counts of aggravated battery.
Pedrote entered into a negotiated plea deal this week with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.
He pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery, a Class X felony, in exchange for his other charges being dismissed.
McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt accepted the plea deal on Friday and sentenced Pedrote to 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Pedrote was among two other men, Walter R. Moran, 31, of Cicero, and Gregory Garner Jr., 31, of Chicago, who were charged in connection with the case.
Moran was charged with three counts of armed robbery, two counts of armed violence, three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and theft.
Garner Jr. was charged with armed robbery, armed violence, aggravated battery by discharge of a firearm, burglary and theft.
The charges against the three stemmed from an armed robbery and shooting that occurred around 3:30 a.m. February 24, 2021, at the Circle K Shell gas station, 600 North State Street in Marengo.
Marengo Police Department Sgt. Andrew Kjellgren said at the time that officers found an adult victim, identified as Brian Pemble, suffering from a gunshot wound.
Pemble was treated at the scene by paramedics and flown to Javon Bea Hospital in Rockford, according to Marengo Fire Protection District Capt. Patrick Fanning.
The 35-year-old victim, an on-duty gas station clerk, was shot once in the leg during a robbery.
Kjellgren said the two suspects, Moran and Pedrote, entered the store armed with handguns and tried robbing the business.
Pedrote held the clerk at gunpoint while he got the contents of the register, according to a police bulletin.
He then ordered the clerk to open the safe and pistol-whipped the clerk on two occasions, the police bulletin said.
Moran was watching the door and then went behind the register and told the clerk he had “three seconds.”
Moran counted down and shot the clerk in the leg, police said.
Additional threats were made to the clerk and one of the suspects yelled “King, King,” referring to the Latin Kings gang, prosecutors said.
Both suspects left and got into a white van, driven by Garner, that was seen driving northbound on State Street.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Apprehension Unit and U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Task Force arrested Pedrote. Moran and Gregory were also later taken into custody.
Police said at the time that the suspects were linked to numerous other armed robberies throughout the Chicago area.
Pedrote’s sentence will be served at 85% and he will receive credit for over 1,500 days of time already served in jail.
In November 2023, Garner pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Garner is projected to be paroled from the IDOC in June 2029. Moran’s case remains active and he remains held in the jail.