Split verdict for third man in Downers Grove Radio Shack robbery
A DuPage County jury deliberated for nearly 10 hours Friday before delivering a split verdict for Brandon Jones, the Woodridge man charged with being the gunman in a December 2013 armed robbery of a Downers Grove Radio Shack.
Jones was found guilty of armed robbery with pepper spray and armed violence with a firearm, and not guilty of armed robbery with a handgun and not guilty of aggravated kidnapping.
Jones now faces a 15- to 30-year prison sentence for the armed violence conviction. The armed robbery with pepper spray conviction carries a prison term of six to 30 years, which would run concurrently with the armed violence sentence.
DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin congratulated prosecutors Enza LaMonica and Mike Fisher at the end of the four-day trial.
"Today the last in a trio of defendants who robbed a Radio Shack at gunpoint learned that he will be held responsible for his actions and will soon be joining hie co-defendants in the Illinois Department of Corrections," Berlin said.
Jones' attorney Richard Mottweiler said he respects the jury's decision.
Prosecutors said Jones, 21, and Carlos Brown, 22, entered the store at 7319 Lemont Road in Downers Grove about 10:30 a.m. Dec. 11, 2013, while Jones' half-brother, BL Jones, stayed in a nearby vehicle.
Clerk Michael Goetschel testified that, within seconds of entering the store, Brandon Jones and Brown led him to a rear storage area, where Jones pointed a gun at his face and ordered him to get on his knees in the bathroom.
Before fleeing with a garbage can full of phones, Jones sprayed Goetschel and a customer, Linda McDougle, with pepper spray, prosecutors said.
Another woman, Renee Cantalupo, testified she was heading into a neighboring store when she heard McDougle's frantic calls for help. She took down a detailed description of the men, their clothes and their vehicle. She followed the men at a safe distance, authorities said, until police arrived to continue the pursuit near 75th Street and I-355.
Mottweiler contended prosecutors failed to put Brandon Jones at the scene of the crime, despite positive identification of him by several witnesses and Jones' confession.
Brown pleaded guilty to armed robbery in August 2014 and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. BL Jones also pleaded guilty to armed robbery in March 2015 and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Brandon Jones has been held on $1 million bail since his arrest. His next court appearance is 9 a.m. Feb. 29.