A Chicago man was sentenced to 70 years in prison Monday for his role in robbing an Evergreen Park pizzeria deliveryman and pistol-whipping him behind the restaurant.Willie Johnson, 23, was convicted in July of the Dec. 16, 2009, armed robbery at Barraco’s Ristorante and Pizzeria, state’s attorney’s spokesman Andy Conklin said.
Johnson, of 701 E. 92nd Place, approached the deliveryman loading food behind the restaurant, 3701 W. 95th St.,with an accomplice and a handgun, and ordered him to the ground, police said.
He struck the man over the head while demanding money, police said. While his accomplice, then-16-year-old Jeonte Shepherd, of Chicago, searched the man’s car, the deliveryman handed over his money and cell phone to Johnson and ran into the pizzeria, police said.
Police searching with dogs found both suspects later that night, one of them hiding in a nearby Dumpster.
Judge John J. Hynes, who heard evidence during Johnson’s bench trial, sentenced him to 70 years in prison. He’ll have to serve at least 50 percent, Conklin said.
Johnson’s prior criminal background — with convictions for residential burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle — led to the stiff sentence.
Shepherd, who was charged as an adult with armed robbery, already is serving 12 years in prison for the crime, Conklin said.
