Teen gets 12 years in fatal burglary

OREGON – The third Rockford teen involved in a home invasion in which a 14-year-old accomplice was shot and killed was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison.

Nathan Whitmire, 17, pleaded guilty to residential burglary. In exchange, murder and home invasion charges were dropped, Ogle County State’s Attorney Ben Roe said in a statement.

Whitmire, Justin Doyle, 16, Cody Moore, 19, and Travis Castle went to 9144 N. Meridian Road late April 6, 2008, to steal guns from Thomas Beilke, whom Moore knew, and knew to be in the hospital.

A friend of Bielke’s, Theodore Varney, 35, of Stillman Valley, was staying at the house, and shot and killed Castle after the teen pointed a gun at him.

Moore and Doyle pleaded guilty in April to charges of home invasion and involuntary manslaughter and were given the maximum 30 years for home invasion, and 5 years concurrent for manslaughter. Murder and residential burglary charges were dropped.