Three young men who robbed a St. Joseph McDonald's via the drive-thru window received 11, 12 and 20 years in prison, respectively.

The last of the trio, Ricky Kirtley, 19, was sentenced Tuesday morning. Buchanan County Judge Dan Kellogg sentenced Mr. Kirtley to 12 years for first-degree robbery, of which he'll be required to serve 85 percent, based on the violent nature of the crime.

Mr. Kirtley admitted driving the car to the McDonald's at 601 N. Belt Highway about 4 a.m. Feb. 19. The two robbers handed Mr. Kirtley the $1,200 through the drive-thru window, and Mr. Kirtley drove them back to Missouri Western State University, with police in pursuit.

Police shot robber Myshodde Miller in the thigh after a chase in the woods. Mr. Miller, carrying a gun, and Anthony Kemp-Starks had crawled in the drive-thru window, threatened employees and forced a manager to open a safe, according to authorities and court testimony.

The three men were from Kansas City and reportedly had been on campus visiting a student.

Judge Weldon Judah sentenced Mr. Miller, 19, to 20 years in prison. Mr. Kellogg sentenced Mr. Kemp-Starks, 19, to 11 years in prison.

Mr. Kirtley's attorney, Hugh Kranitz, asked Mr. Kellogg to give his client a lesser sentence due to him not entering the restaurant. Mr. Kirtley said he wouldn't "mess up again" if given a short prison sentence.

"It was a huge mistake, and the person who was there that night wasn't me," Mr. Kirtley said. "I'm just a kid, but I'm taking full responsibility for my actions."

Mr. Kellogg said it was a "very sad story" - that Mr. Kirtley lost scholarship opportunities and has a child who will turn 2 next month - but the issue at hand was the crime.

Joe Blumberg can be reached at joeblumberg@npgco.com.