RESERVE — Two men who illegally blitzed Saints Express last year for dozens of cigarette cartons and an AR-15 rifle were sacked by the court system, each pleading guilty to their roles in the Reserve smash-and-grab.

According to the St. John the Baptist Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, the two Reserve men reached plea agreements last month.

Aaron Duhe, 50, pleaded guilty Feb. 20 to simple burglary and was sentenced to three years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Duhe was given credit for time served since Oct. 2, according to the Clerk’s office.

The defendant was ordered to pay $315 in court costs, and a victim’s restitution hearing is scheduled May 2.

As a condition of Duhe’s plea, other charges pending from the burglary were dropped.

St. John Parish District Attorney Bridget A. Dinvaut said the evidence indicated Duhe physically burglarized the business.

In a related court ruling, 29-year-old Morris Brown Jr. pleaded guilty Feb. 7 to accessory after the fact to simple burglary, receiving a three-year deferred sentence and three years of active probation.

Brown was ordered to pay $1,365 in fines and fees.

St. John Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Saints Express on West Airline Highway at approximately 2 a.m. Oct. 2, where they reviewed video surveillance that identified two burglary suspects.

Police initially said Brown and Duhe entered the convenience store by pushing in the front door before stealing an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, three magazines, a carrying case, 70 cigarette cartons, five refurbished iPhones, approximately 75 pieces of costume jewelry and an undisclosed amount of coins.

Judicial warrants were issued for Brown and Duhe, who police said each admitted to stealing from the business.

According to Dinvaut, evidence presented to prosecutors demonstrated Brown did not participate in the actual burglary.

“The Sheriff’s Office did not provide us any evidence which indicates or proves that he participated, so Mr. Brown could not be charged with that burglary,” Dinvaut said.

Police said the rifle, magazines and case were recovered.

Returned items, according to authorities, included 30 cartons of cigarettes and some pieces of costume jewelry.