Lombard man gets 10 years for armed robbery

Robert M. Belle said his downward spiral began when his occasional use of marijuana graduated to cocaine and heroin.

Unable to break from its hold, the 29-year-old Lombard man said he was so desperate for money last summer that he resorted to violence for the first time in his life - a decision that cost him dearly.

DuPage Associate Judge Mark Dwyer sentenced Belle to 10 years in prison Thursday for the Aug. 28 armed robbery of a Glendale Heights gas station clerk. Belle will be eligible for parole after he serves half the term.

Belle, armed with an unloaded revolver, made off with about $215 after sticking up the lone female clerk working the night shift at the Glendale Marathon station at 1415 Glen Ellyn Road. The woman was not physically harmed.

Police nabbed Belle minutes later after spotting him in a black Dodge Intrepid that matched the vehicle description provided by the clerk. The license plates were covered in an attempt to avoid apprehension.

Belle pleaded guilty to felony armed robbery April 11. He faced six to 30 years in prison. His attorney, Richard C. Irvin, sought a minimum sentence after citing Belle's lack of prior criminal history and drug dependency, which he argued fueled the violence. Irvin said Belle has participated in several treatment classes in the jail during his nearly one-year incarceration since his arrest. Irvin noted the gun was not loaded.

"Drug addiction is real," the defense attorney said. "It is a disease, like diabetes or cancer. Nothing in his background suggests violence. But for his use of drugs, we would not be here today."

Though Belle did not have a violent past, prosecutor Mary K. Cronin said, he sure jumped "into the big leagues" when robbing a woman at gunpoint. Cronin sought a 15-year prison term.

In a passionate plea, Belle told the judge how he went from an educated, career-oriented person who loved chess and science fiction to an unemployed drug addict who shamed himself and his family. He apologized to the clerk, who was not in court, and his parents, seated feet away, and pledged to continue with his treatment.

"I know in my heart of hearts, I will not stand before this court or any other court again," he said.