La Salle man pleads guilty for acting as lookout in La Salle robbery

A La Salle man pleaded guilty Friday to acting as the lookout in a Sept. 28 robbery in La Salle. Ethan Martin was placed on probation and agreed to testify against two remaining suspects.

Martin, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, a Class 2 felony carrying 3-7 years in prison. Martin had no prior criminal history, however, and was deemed eligible for 48 months reporting probation plus time served.

As part of his plea agreement, Martin also agreed to testify truthfully in two more pending cases stemming from the same robbery. They are Tyler J. Briddick, 23, of Peru, and Josue Bustos, 38, of La Salle. They will next appear Jan. 13 and Feb. 17, respectively.

All three were charged following an investigation into the unlawful entry of a residence in the 500 block of Gooding Street. There, the assailants demanded cash (they left only with the victim’s cellular telephone) while allegedly brandishing knives and while Martin kept lookout.

Also charged was a Spring Valley man, 17, at the time of offense. The teen pleaded guilty in November to a charge of armed robbery in a separate case (he mugged a 62-year-old pedestrian at knifepoint in downtown La Salle) and was placed on 18 months’ probation. As with Martin, the teen also is required to testify truthfully in any cases that go to trial.