MONROE — The fourth of eight codefendants in the February 2017 burglary of the Monroe Radio Shack was sentenced last month in Green County Circuit Court.
Monte T. Brannon, 22, Aurora, Illinois, was sentenced Aug. 15 to four years on probation with a condition that he spend one year in jail. He is convicted of a Class G felony charge of theft of property valued at more than $10,000. Related charges of burglary, criminal damage to property and resisting or obstructing an officer were dismissed as part of a plea deal, but “read in,” meaning the judge could consider them at sentencing.
Brannon is also ordered as conditions of his probation to undergo counseling and any recommended alcohol or drug treatment program. He is eligible to serve his sentence with Huber work-release privileges.
Three of his codefendants, Diamond Rikki Madison, 23, Trejamario Deshad Allen Cook, 25, and Alexis Marylin Beyer, 20, all of Illinois, have already been sentenced. Four other codefendants have cases still pending at various stages in the legal process. The eighth had her case dismissed shortly after it was filed.
Eight people in two vehicles pulled off the burglary in the early morning hours of Feb. 14, 2017 at the Radio Shack and U.S. Cellular outlet at 301 6th Ave. West, according to court records. Five broke into the store while three others waited in getaway vehicles.
Surveillance video showed that five people in dark clothing and masks shattered the front door, broke into a locked storage room and loaded 80 cellphones into a duffle bag.
The heist was completed in 73 seconds.
Police responded to the area minutes later when a citizen reported seeing a burglary in progress. The drivers of a maroon 2016 Kia Optima and a gray 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, both with Illinois plates, drove off from the Radio Shack and led police on a chase down Wisconsin 11-81 at speeds topping 100 mph.
Police used “stop sticks” to apprehend the Kia in the Town of Spring Grove and the Jeep in Rock County. The passengers of the Kia fled on foot into nearby farm fields and eluded officers.
Police recovered 68 phones in the Kia that matched the description of the phones stolen from Radio Shack, as well as 12 others along the side of the highway. Police believe these were thrown from the Jeep.