Man gets boot camp for role in 2011 Schaumburg hotel beating
A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to his part in a 2011 home invasion and robbery at a Schaumburg hotel.
Joseph K. Stein testified last week against co-defendant Mitchell Barnes, 23, about the home invasion, beating and robbery of a resident of the Homewood Studio Suites about 1 a.m. Aug. 13, 2011.
In exchange for Stein's testimony and his guilty plea to robbery, prosecutors agreed to a six-year prison sentence with a recommendation for boot camp, an alternative program meant to teach skills and discipline.
Stein, who was at the hotel visiting a friend at the time, testified that Barnes - who was also staying at the hotel - came up with the idea of robbing William Mallette, 46. At the time, Mallette was living in the room across the hall from Stein's friend.
Stein testified that he and several friends were outside the hotel smoking cigarettes when he said Mallette approached them, showed them a money clip, touched Stein inappropriately and invited them back to his room to use cocaine. They declined, said Stein, who testified that it was later, when he recounted the exchange to Barnes, that Barnes suggested robbing Mallette.
Mallette denied all of Stein's claims and testified he saw Stein and his friends outside and smoked a cigarette with them, but had no other contact.
Barnes knocked on Mallette's door and began beating him, said Stein, who admitted taking a money clip from the room. Mallette suffered a fractured spine, cracked ribs, a partly collapsed lung and fractured thyroid cartilage in the attack.
A jury convicted Barnes last week of home invasion and robbery but acquitted him of attempted murder. He next appears in court on Sept. 23 for post-trial motions and a possible sentencing.