Man gets 12 years for Glen Ellyn church break-in

In the past three decades, authorities said Herman Nitz lived just 27 days in which he wasn't either accused of a crime or behind bars for his latest conviction.

His losing streak continued this week as Nitz began serving a 12-year prison term for stealing from a Glen Ellyn church.

The 45-year-old Glen Ellyn man was arrested for a Sept. 23, 2007, break-in at St. Marks Episcopal Church in which 37 pieces of jewelry worth about $650 were pilfered from the gift shop.

Nitz maintained his innocence, but police said they found his fingerprint at the crime scene. The jewelry was never recovered. A jury convicted Nitz of theft, but in a Nov. 5, 2008 split verdict, acquitted him of burglary.

Nitz faced six to 30 years in prison.

His attorney, Jeffrey York, a senior DuPage County assistant public defender, said Nitz survived a horrific childhood and struggles as an adult with serious mental health issues which, until recently, had been untreated.

But prosecutor Thomas O'Connor argued Nitz had more than enough chances to turn around his life of alcohol and drug dependency.

O'Connor said Nitz's criminal history began at age 14 and continued during the next three decades with convictions for aggravated robbery, burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, to name a few.

Nitz's record totals 35 offenses, the prosecutor said, including 16 for felonies. O'Connor estimated that in the 11,200 days since Nitz's first arrest, there were only 27 in which he didn't have a criminal charge hanging over him or was locked up after being convicted.

Citing the defendant's horrific criminal history, DuPage Circuit Judge George Bakalis sentenced Nitz on Monday to 12 years in prison. He is eligible for parole after serving half the prison term.