Murderer sentenced to 53 years

MARSHALL, IL (WTHI) - A convicted murderer is sentenced to 53 years in prison.

Jarrod Riley was sentenced Wednesday for the murder of Arnulfo Pacheco of Marshall, Illinois.

Riley had plead guilty to the brutal killing, admitting he killed Pacheco using a hammer, a VCR and a glass tabletop.

Jarrod Riley will turn 21 this month, in prison.

By law he will spend every birthday for the next 50 years in prison.

Riley cannot earn "good time" for the murder charge.

However his three year sentence for robbery and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle could be cut down.

Either way he cannot be released until 2061.

Now, as part of the plea deal the maximum time Riley could spend in prison was 67 years.

Before handing down the sentence, the judge read some strong statements about Riley.

Riley's been painted in court as a father of two who's never taken responsibility, dropped out of school, did drugs and lived off of others.

The judge read a statement saying Riley had never shown any empathy for the hard-working man he killed, Arnulfo Pacheco.

Saying there's no evidence he's a sociopath or has mental illness but said,"It was as if he filled the vacuum of his life by murdering another human being," calling the death of Arnulfo Pacheco "utterly senseless."

Riley had no comments and no reaction to his sentence.

Now his former girlfriend Maria Pacheco was found guilty of murder in her uncle's death.

Maria will learn her fate Thursday at her sentencing.

She faces up to 74 years in prison.

News 10 will be in the courtroom again Thursday and bring you the very latest.