Chicago man convicted in Des Plaines car jacking

A Chicago man accused of carjacking a Rosemont taxicab and robbing a Des Plaines Subway sandwich shop last year was convicted of aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated robbery and battery Wednesday, published reports indicate.

Larry Hampton, 41, of the 107000 block of South Prairie Avenue, acted as his own attorney during the three-day jury trial.

Prosecutors said Hampton entered a cab about 5:30 a.m. Jan. 26, 2011, near Rosemont’s Crowne Plaza Hotel and instructed the 65-year-old driver to take him to the Subway restaurant on the 2000 block of Miner Street in Des Plaines.

While the driver waited, Hampton entered the store and attempted to access the cash register, police said. A clerk confronted Hampton and the two exchanged blows, after which Hampton ran from the store with the clerk on his heels. Authorities say Hampton then punched the cabdriver, stole the keys and drove off, leading to an hourlong chase that concluded about 7 a.m. in Chicago when the minivan cab Hampton was driving crashed into a school bus and spun into a light pole.

Hampton was apprehended as he attempted to flee the scene, police said.

Hampton, who has an extensive criminal background that includes convictions for robbery, burglary and drug-related charges, has been in Cook County Jail on a $3 million bond.

He next appears in a Skokie courtroom June 8 for sentencing.