CHRISTIAN COUNTY — A 51-year-old former Macon County Sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to the lesser of two charges against him stemming from a nine hour standoff last year with law enforcement responding to reports the deputy shot at his wife as she fled their home just south of Pana.

Markes N. Rodgers pleaded guilty in Christian County Court to a Class X felony charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm in exchange for the attempted murder charge being dismissed.

The plea agreement caps any prison time to a 13 year maximum. Rodgers is scheduled to be sentenced March 15, pending the completion of a pre-sentence investigation report.

In September, Christian County Sheriff’s deputies had been called to Rodgers’ house on a report of a domestic disturbance.

Rodgers’ wife had fled the home on foot and Rodgers “had fired multiple shots at her as she was running away from the home.”

Deputies located her at a neighbor’s home and took her to safety and then evacuated homes on either side of the Rodgers’ property as they set up a perimeter.

Illinois State Police SWAT team and state police negotiators were called to the scene to oversee contact with Rodgers and after nine hours he surrendered without further incident.

He’s remained in jail since that time with bail set at $500,000.