By Jim Hagerty
Contributor

ROCKFORD — A Rockford man was sentenced to more than two decades in prison for using a plastic BB gun to hold up a local Walgreens.

Percy F. Baker, 54, was sentenced April 6 to 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections Judge John Lowry. He was also ordered to be on mandatory supervised release for three years.

Baker was found guilty of aggravated robbery after a jury trial in September 2017.

In November 2015, Rockford Police were called to the Walgreens at 1602 Kishwaukee Street after a report of an armed robbery. Witnesses told police Baker walked in to the store, pointed a gun at a cashier and demanded money.

Video surveillance showed Baker holding a gun, taking money out of the cash register and other merchandise from the store before fleeing on foot. Police found Baker near the scene and the black plastic gun lying nearby.

Aggravated robbery is a Class 1 felony, punishable by four to 15 years in prison. Baker was eligible for an extended sentence of six to 30 years years because of his previous criminal record. He will be required to serve at least 50 percent of his prison term. R.