4 suspects in robbery spree plead not guilty

Four people police say are responsible for a string of armed robberies in several Lake County locations pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County circuit court.

Two members of the group, Jermmie Carlisle, 21, of North Chicago, and Alonzo Amos, 22, of Waukegan, are also charged with sex crimes in three of the incidents.

Those two and Ashley Robinson, 22, of Waukegan, were arrested March 29 when police broke up an attempted robbery of a Waukegan Papa John's pizza restaurant.

Police said the trio admitted various degrees of involvement in seven other robberies and identified a fourth suspect, Jacob Burnett, 24, of Waukegan.

Assistant State's Attorney Bolling Haxall said Robinson drove the getaway car and Amos was one of the men directly involved in all eight robberies.

He said the incidents occurred Dec. 13 at an Arby's in Waukegan; Jan. 14 at a Game Stop in Waukegan; Jan. 23 at a Subway in Gurnee; Jan. 31 at a Burger King in Gurnee; Feb. 5 at a Radio Shack in Waukegan; and March 2 at a Game Stop in Round Lake Beach and a Wendy's in Zion.

In each case, Amos and one of the other men went into the establishment armed with a stun gun and a BB gun to take money and merchandise.

Haxall said the group made off with thousands of dollars in cash and thousands more in video games, computers and cell phones.

Carlisle is accused of assisting Amos in the Jan. 14, Jan. 23, Jan. 31 and Feb. 5 incidents, Haxall said.

He is also charged with molesting a young girl at the March 29 robbery and raping female employees at the Gurnee Subway and the Waukegan Radio Shack.

Burnett is charged with assisting Amos and Robinson in the Dec. 13 incident at Arby's.

All four are charged with multiple counts of armed robbery and aggravated robbery.

Additional counts of aggravated kidnapping are lodged against Amos, Carlisle and Robinson, while Amos and Carlisle are also charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault.

Amos and Carlisle are being held on $2 million each while Burnett and Robinson are being held on $1 million bond.

Haxall said all of the crimes charged carry maximum sentences of 30 years in prison except for aggravated robbery, which has a 15-year maximum.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial for June 20 and ordered all four to appear in court again June 2.