The alleged “mastermind” of the home invasion robbery that ended in the shooting death of Wheatland resident Joe Riley testified Wednesday about the plan.
Augustine Sanchez, 21, testified for the prosecution Wednesday at the jury trial for his co-defendant Markeith Wilson, saying that he and his friends Wilson, Demarco Hudson and Anthony Harris II drove to Riley’s home in Wheatland planning to rob the 23-year-old of money and marijuana.
Sanchez had planned the robbery after, according to his testimony, he was told by a friend of his named Devo and by a friend of Riley’s named Christina May that Riley was an easy target for a robbery.
But according to his testimony Wednesday, Sanchez had also been told that Riley had been robbed before and that he now had a gun and a large dog.
When the four men went to Riley’s home on Nov. 15, 2018, Sanchez said he, Harris and Wilson brought handguns.
“Did you think that when you attempted to rob someone that there certainly could be a gunfight?” District Attorney Michael Graveley asked Sanchez.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Did you think some people could die if there was a gunfight in someone’s home?”
“Yeah,” Sanchez answered.
“And you did it anyway?” Graveley asked.
“Yeah,” Sanchez answered.
Wilson, Sanchez and the other two men are each charged with first-degree homicide for Riley’s death and attempted first-degree homicide for the shooting of Riley’s friend Eva Lofton, who was shot and critically injured. They are also charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery, burglary while armed and two counts of recklessly endangering safety.
The four men are being tried separately, with Wilson the first to be tried.
‘I just heard shooting’
In testimony at his trial, witnesses have said that Wilson, Harris and Hudson went to Riley’s door, with Sanchez staying outside hidden behind a tree.
Sanchez said he stayed outside because he did not believe he was strong enough to kick in Riley’s door, saying his plan was to go into the house after the other men had entered.
According to Sanchez, Wilson and Harris kicked in the door, with Wilson stepping in to Riley’s living room where Riley and Loften were on the couch.
When the door broke open, Sanchez testified, “I didn’t hear any conversation. I just heard shooting.”
In statements to police, Harris said when he entered the house, Wilson held up a gun and announced a robbery, using an expletive. Others who testified, including a friend of Riley’s who was in the house and who was not injured, did not recall any statements and instead recalled gunfire beginning as soon as the door was kicked in.
Exchange of gunfire
What is clear is that Wilson was shot by Riley, and that Harris returned fire, shooting both Riley and Lofton.
According to evidence at trial, no bullets were shot from the gun Wilson was carrying, but there is conflicting testimony of whether Wilson attempted to fire the gun.
The guns Wilson and Harris used in the robbery were later found in a ditch. The gun Hudson had was not recovered.
Riley died at his home. Lofton was shot several times and critically injured but survived.
Fleeing the scene
Sanchez testified that he and the others ran back to his car. He knew that Hudson and Wilson were shot, and wanted to get them to a hospital, using a maps app on his phone to try to find the nearest emergency room.
“When we got there we saw it was a dog hospital, a veterinarian,” Sanchez testified.
“I didn’t know what to do. I was still thinking on my feet, trying to think what to do, where to go,” Sanchez testified.
Harris was on the phone with 911, saying he had two people who had been shot. The dispatcher told them to pull over and await an ambulance.
Instead, Sanchez dropped his injured friends off at a gas station and left, later having his girlfriend — who owned the car he was driving — report the car as stolen.
At the trial Wednesday Sanchez said he decided to testify for the prosecution in an attempt to get “consideration” for reduced charges or a reduced sentence. He said he has not been given any promises by the state.
Taking the Fifth
Harris was called to testify by the defense, which hopes to show that Wilson was acting on Sanchez’s plan and did not act to kill Riley.
When called to the stand, Harris refused to testify, citing his right to remain silent.
“I’m not going to testify today. I’m going to plead the Fifth,” he said.
The trial will continue today, with the state and defense expected to make closing arguments this morning.
PETERSON'S PUMPKINS

Chloe Wallach, along with members of the MSOE women’s volleyball team, carve pumpkins at Kris Peterson’s home on Sunday.
PETERSON'S PUMPKINS

Darrin LaBelle, left, and Tom Wood carve pumpkins with a a group at Kris Peterson's home on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.
PETERSON'S PUMPKINS

Tom Wood and his son, Cooper, 2, carve a pumpkin at Kris Peterson's home on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.
PETERSON'S PUMPKINS

Kris Peterson cuts the top off a pumpkin at his home on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.
PETERSON'S PUMPKINS

Kris Peterson carves pumpkins each year for a charity. He and a group continued the tradition at his home on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.
TRUNK OR TREAT

Kelli Cross is dressed as a Lego pirate in a homemade costume. Trunk or Treat at Barth Storage on Saturday.
TRUNK OR TREAT

Kelli Cross is dressed as a Lego pirate in a homemade costume. Trunk or Treat at Barth Storage on Saturday.
TRUNK OR TREAT

Handing out sweet treats
Tremper High School students Ryan McGonegle, left, McKenzie Cope, Lauren McMahon and Katie Riese, members of student government at the school, hand out candy during the Trunk or Treat event at Barth Storage on Saturday.
TRUNK OR TREAT

Shanna De Lacy of Extended Love Child Development is dressed as a Dr. Seuss character. Trunk or Treat at Barth Storage on Saturday.
TRUNK OR TREAT

Roman Ventura, dressed as a police officer, poses for a photo with Deputy Friendly Ray Rowe, right, during Saturday’s “Trunk or Treat” at Barth Storarge.
TRUNK OR TREAT
Fairy Tale Characters

Fairy tale characters
Veronica Kocsis, left, and Natalie Murphy were dressed in costume for Trunk or Treat at Barth Storage on Saturday.
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

Christina Scarbalis, second from left, with her children Amelia, far left, and Matthew, center, work with Diane Gerlach and her son Sam as students and volunteers build lending libraries to encourage youth reading skills during a workshop at the Brompton School on Saturday.
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

Adam Schaefer, a carpenter for the Kenosha Unified School District, talks about how to assemble lending libraries.
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

Taylor Jensen makes faces as she helps build little lending libraries Saturday at Brompton School.
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

Taylor Jensen makes faces as she helps build little libraries Saturday at Brompton School.
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

Matt Jensen, left, works with his daughters Taylor and Morgan, right, as students and volunteers build lending libraries to encourage youth reading skills during a workshop at the Brompton School on Saturday.
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

Students and volunteers gather to build lending libraries during a workshop at the Brompton School Saturday.
LITTLE LENDING LIBRARIES

Elisabeth Pietluck,left, and her dad Wayne Pietluck, far right, work with Brian and Keira Clark, center, during a workshop Saturday at Brompton School to building little libraries.
PUBLIC MUSEUM HISTORY OF MYSTERY

Yo-Fan Callewart wears a period costume while she welcomes visitors to the “History of Mystery” Mini Con at the Kenosha Public Museum Saturday.
PUBLIC MUSEUM HISTORY OF MYSTERY

Carol Dietz, middle, gets some help from George Hagenauer, right, while she makes selections from mystery novels for sale during the History of Mystery Mini-Con at the Kenosha Public Museum Saturday.
PUBLIC MUSEUM HISTORY OF MYSTERY

Some of the items for sale at the “History of Mystery” Mini Con at the Kenosha Public Museum Saturday.
HARBOR MARKET

Leo Reyes applies a condiment to food during the new indoor HarborMarket.
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET

Keith Minikel, of Fire-Up Acoustic, performs at the new Winter HarborMarket site.
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET

Derek Fox of Sky Mountain Kettle Corn prepares a batch of popcorn outside the new indoor HarborMarket site at the Masonic Center at 115 56th St.
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET

Jordan Bryant, left, holds Ashlyn while Ron Bryant, top, Riley Bryant, bottom, and Linda Bryant look over food for sale by Renee Stinson, far right, of Jams and Breads LLC., at the new Winter HarborMarket site at the Masonic Center at 115 56th St.
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET

Tina Gomez, left, brings out some freshly-baked bread to Janice Erickson at Mason’s Bread at the new indoor HarborMarket site.
HARBOR MARKET
HARBOR MARKET