Minden teens sent to prison for robberies

"You are just a thief," District Judge Dave Gamble told 18-year-old Wesley Lee LaPorte at Tuesday' sentencing. "I hope that your prison sentence will change you. I hope that you have been caught in time for that to occur."

LaPorte could spend up to 12 years in prison for each of two robberies. He must serve at least 40 months of each sentence before he can be paroled.

The other teenager, Daniel Lloyd Hellwinkel, also 18, faces up to 10 years for each robbery. He must serve at least 30 months of each sentence before he gets paroled.

A third teen, Justin Reid, who spent his 18th birthday in jail this weekend, was ordered to spend another six months there and three years on probation for helping to plan one of the robberies.

LaPorte and Hellwinkel robbed the Johnson Lane General Store Feb. 11, following it with a March 6 robbery of the Wendy's restaurant in Minden. Reid helped plan the Wendy's robbery, but backed out because he didn't want to miss a curfew. But Reid didn't tell authorities about the robbery plans, and later pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of criminal conspiracy.

All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution. Authorities recovered more than $2,100 following the Wendy's robbery, but LaPorte and Hellwinkel were ordered to pay $2,911 in restitution. Reid was ordered to pay $1,122 in restitution.

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