Waukegan man admits to robbery

One of four people accused in a string of armed robberies across Lake County pleaded guilty Thursday in Lake County circuit court.

Jacob Burnett, 24, of Waukegan, admitted his involvement in the first of eight robberies the group is charged with, and the only one in which Burnett was a participant.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Bolling Haxall agreed to reduce the charge against Burnett from armed robbery to robbery, and he was sentenced to six years in prison.

Burnett also agreed to testify against his two accomplices in the Dec. 13 robbery of an Arby's restaurant in Waukegan.

Haxall said Burnett and Alonzo Amos, 22, of Waukegan, entered the restaurant just before closing time. Amos was carrying a Taser device. They demanded money and fled with about $1,000 in cash in a car driven by Ashley Robinson, 22, of Waukegan.

Burnett was jailed a few days later on an unrelated domestic battery charge, Haxall said, but Amos, Robinson and Jermmie Carlisle, 21, of North Chicago went on to commit other crimes.

Amos and Robinson are charged with robberies: 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, March 2 at a Game Stop in Round Lake Beach and a Wendy's in Zion; and March 29 at a Papa John's Pizza in Waukegan.

Carlisle is charged with armed robbery in the Jan. 14, Jan. 23, Jan. 31, Feb. 5 and March 29 incidents. He is also charged with molesting a young girl in one of the stores that was robbed, and raping female employees at two others.

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

Amos and Carlisle are held on $2 million bond each, and Robinson is held on $1 million. All three are due in court Sept. 9.