All four of the men involved in a conspiracy to rob a 19-year-old Cedartown man that turned into a murder were sentenced in Floyd County Superior Court this afternoon.

Two of the men, Eric Bernard Hightower and Chiresico Rodriques Montgomery, pleaded guilty this morning in Floyd County Superior Court.

Hightower, 38, of Rome pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to ten years to serve seven in prison.

Montgomery, 28, of Cedartown pleaded guilty to two counts conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was sentenced to 30 years to serve 25 in prison.

Both men were set to begin trial this morning on murder and armed robbery charges for allegedly conspiring to rob Jeffrey Xavier Pledger Jr. to a 19th Street home under the guise of selling him cocaine.

Montgomery and Hightower were only half of the quartet that allegedly conspired to rob Pledger of a large amount of cash he was known to carry on his person.

However, the plan went awry and Pledger was shot to death outside of the home.

"Montgomery was friends with Pledger. I think he played a primary roll in getting Pledger to come to Floyd County," said Assistant District Attorney Steve Cox.

Prosecutors said Montgomery provided the shooter with the sawed off shot gun that would later be used to shoot Pledger at the 19th Street home. Montgomery also admitting to driving the shooter to the 19th Street home.

Cox also described Hightower's involvement in Pledger's death as "being up to his ears in the armed robbery conspiracy."

The other two men have already pleaded guilty to their part in the case.

Bryan Williams, 40 of Rome, pleaded guilty to the May 6, 2009, murder of Pledger on Friday and was sentenced to life in prison this morning.

Williams admitted shooting Pledger but said he never intended to kill him in what police said was a robbery gone wrong.

Another man, 19-year-old Trenton Tyrice Williamson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery in early June and like Williams agreed to testify against Hightower and Montgomery.

Williamson was sentenced to 10 years to serve three in prison.

Williams told the judge that Hightower and Montgomery fled the scene before an altercation with the victim. Williams said he and Pledger struggled over the gun, and then Pledger ran to his vehicle and attempted to leave.

The sentencing for all four men is scheduled to be held at 1:30 p.m. today.