Teen pleads guilty in St. Charles hostage taking

A St. Charles Township teenager pleaded guilty Thursday to his role in a drug-related robbery and hostage taking two years ago, when he was 16, authorities said.

Joshua Mannella, now 18, is set to be sentenced Sept. 3 for an attempted aggravated kidnapping offense, which took place at a house at 6N683 Halsted Ave., said Mark Stajdohar, a Kane County prosecutor.

Mannella is the third person to be convicted in the Nov. 12, 2006, incident involving three captives. Last Friday, his mother, Wilma, and her boyfriend, Patrick T. Conlin, pleaded guilty to similar offenses.

The three victims showed up about 4 a.m. at the one-story home west of Route 25, which police have said was stocked with marijuana, intending to buy drugs using counterfeit cash.

But when the dealers realized the money was bogus, the buyers were beaten, pepper sprayed and robbed of their wallets and cell phones at gunpoint, according to courtroom statements.

One of the victims was treated and released at a local hospital. A 6-month-old baby also was in the home at the time of the incident, but was not injured, police said.

Joshua Mannella faces probation or between four to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Robert Spence, Stajdohar said.

Conlin, 47, and Wilma Mannella, 50, also pleaded guilty to one count each of attempted aggravated kidnapping and face similar punishments when they are sentenced Aug. 21 by Judge Timothy Sheldon.