The following press release has been received from the State’s Attorney’s Office:

HINKLEY MAN SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPT ARMED ROBBERY OF BANK

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that twenty year old Matthew Reno was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the March 24, 2008 attempted robbery of the Midwest Bank in Union, IL.

Witness testimony during the three day jury trial revealed that the defendant, while armed with a handgun, attempted to take money from a bank teller before being tackled to the ground by a customer inside the bank.

The defendant ran from the scene and was able to escape, only to be apprehended by police at a later time.

Evidence was also presented in the form of cellular telephone records showing that the defendant’s cell phone was used near the bank a short time after the attempted robbery.

Reno faced a sentence of either probation or between four and fifteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The lead prosecutor on the case was Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs.