Man gets 2 years for stolen ski gear

An Elmwood Park man was sentenced to two years in prison Monday after he admitted knowing that $3,000 worth of water ski equipment he was caught with was stolen.

Cardell Thompson, 40, also agreed to testify against his co-defendant in the case, who is currently a fugitive.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Marykay Foy said a Deerfield police officer stopped a car driven by Harry Powell, 36, of Maywood about 1:30 a.m. July 31.

The officer had seen two men leave a construction trailer on the Tri-State Tollway near Lake-Cook Road, get into the car and drive away.

Inside the car, in which Thompson was a passenger, the officer found a pair of bolt cutters and three duffel bags full of skis and wetsuits.

An inspection of the construction trailer revealed a lock on the door had been cut off but nothing inside had been disturbed.

Powell eventually told police he and Thompson had gone into the trailer to steal tools but left empty-handed when they could not find any, authorities said.

Powell also said they had gotten the ski equipment from a trailer they had broken into just before their arrest while it was parked at the Hilton Garden Inn at 26225 N. Riverwoods Road in Mettawa, authorities said.

Thompson pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property, and a charge of burglary was dropped in exchange for his plea.

An arrest warrant was issued for Powell when he failed to appear for a Sept. 17 court date and calls for him to be held on $250,000 bond.

Foy said Powell faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him.