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Illinois men charged with armed robbery
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MONROE - Two Illinois men were charged Wednesday with armed robbery after an incident in Monroe on Jan. 21.

Demarco Dwayne Owens, 18, and Elijah Lewayne Martin, 18, both of Winslow, Illinois, each face a Class C felony count of armed robbery with the threat of force and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

The duo were charged after an incident in the early morning hours of Jan. 21 in the 1900 block of 15th Avenue.

According to a police report, the victim was walking to a residence in the 2000 block of 16th Avenue when he was accosted by two men wearing hooded sweatshirts and face masks. One of them, later determined to be Owens, grabbed the victim by the torso, while Martin pointed a gun at the back of the victim's head.

The duo told the victim they would kill him if he did not empty his pockets. The victim complied, giving up $500 in cash, his cell phone and a pack of cigarettes, he later told police.

After giving up his items, the pair briefly debated whether to shoot the victim before deciding to leave him. While leaving, Owens punched the victim in the eye, the victim reported.

Shortly after, police investigated the residence to which the victim was traveling when he was attacked. The woman living there initially claimed she knew nothing about the attack, but eventually revealed a bag in the residence that contained the sweatshirts and masks the attackers wore, as well as the pack of cigarettes they stole.

Police also found a semi-automatic handgun at the residence.

The woman said she was Martin's girlfriend and knew about his plan to rob the victim beforehand. She also said Martin had claimed the handgun was a fake.

When police questioned the duo, they admitted to robbing the victim, but both claimed the gun was false. In addition, both claimed they had stolen no money, but had actually stolen marijuana that the victim intended to deliver to the woman.

The marijuana was found in their possession during their arrest.

Each had a bond set at $10,000 with conditions that they not possess or consume any controlled substances.

The two will next appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 1. The maximum possible sentence for their charges is 25 years in prison.