Lake Villa Township couple charged with three armed robberies in a week

A Lake Villa Township couple is held in Lake County jail after admitting to armed robberies at two businesses in during a seven-day span, authorities said.

Christopher M. Sparrowgrove, 29, of the 25000 block of West Carson Drive, has been charged with aggravated armed robbery, armed robbery, and theft over $300 for twice robbing the Lake Villa Pantry on Route 59, and for robbing J's Liquor Store on Route 83, Lake County Sheriff Police Sgt. Sara Balmes said. His bail was set at $250,000, Balmes said.

Jasmine R. Stevenson, 22, also of the 25000 block of West Carson Drive, is charged with theft over $300, and remains in Lake County jail on $75,000 bail, Balmes said. Police said Stevenson is Sparrowgrove's girlfriend.

Balmes said deputies were called to J's Liquor Store in the 36000 block of Route 83 at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 2, for a report that a white man holding a black handgun entered the store and robbed employees at gunpoint.

While Antioch Police assisted in the investigation with a K-9 search, a second robbery was reported at approximately 6:15 p.m. at the Lake Villa Pantry in the 37000 block Route 59, Balmes said.

The same offender description was provided in both robberies, Balmes said. The weapon used in both robberies was actually a BB gun that was left at the Lake Villa Pantry, she said.

Lake Villa Police were assisting Lake County Sheriff's deputies at both locations, and a suspicious vehicle was stopped by police as it left the Lake Villa Pantry, Balmes said. Sparrowgrove and Stevenson were taken into custody, Balmes said.

Both confessed to the Nov. 2 robberies, and an Oct. 27 robbery at the Lake Villa Pantry, she said.