GREENFIELD — An Indianapolis man who admitted to robbing a McCordsville gas station in 2016 will serve a 12-year sentence — the same punishment his accomplice received last month, records show.
Leobardo Sanchez, 21, 268 N. Elder Ave., Indianapolis, pleaded guilty this week to one Level 3 felony count of aiding in armed robbery and one Level 4 felony count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
He was ordered to serve a 12-year sentence, with 10 years spent in prison followed by two years on probation.
His co-defendant — Anthony Lopez, 24, 1946 W. U.S. 40, Greencastle — also pleaded guilty to a Level 3 felony count of armed robbery. He has already started serving a nine-year prison sentence and will serve three years on probation, for a total of 12 years, records show.
Investigators say Lopez and Sanchez robbed the Village Pantry in McCordsville, 5964 W. Broadway St., in November 2016.
The pair entered the gas station together and demanded money from the woman working behind the store counter, police said.
Lopez pointed a gun at the clerk and threatened to shoot her if she didn’t give them money, according to court documents. He and Sanchez then fled from the gas station and robbed a second gas station in nearby Lawrence before being arrested in Greenfield after a brief car chase, police said.
In Hancock County, Lopez faced one Level 3 felony count of armed robbery; one Level 5 felony count of intimidation; and one Level 5 felony count of a felon carrying a handgun, according to court records.
He pleaded guilty to the Level 3 felony as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. The other charges he faced were dismissed, records show.
Sanchez faced one Level 3 felony count of aiding in an armed robbery and one Level 4 felony count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, records show. He pleaded guilty to both offenses and let a judge decide the amount of time he’d spend locked behind bars, officials said.
Both men faced charges of robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm in Marion County, as well, records show. They’ve since pleaded guilty in those cases and have been ordered to serve time in prison.
Sanchez’s family came to Hancock County Superior Court 1 this week to ask a judge to be lenient with Sanchez.
The man’s younger brother, Armondo, took the stand and asked the judge to give Sanchez a second chance. Sanchez had made mistakes, but he could rectify them, the boy said.
“He can go on the right path,” he said.
Sanchez told the judge he takes full responsibility for his actions and want to live a better life once he’s released from prison.
“I just want to be home with my family,” he said.