90 days' work release in Naperville vintage guitar thefts

An Indiana man dodged a lengthy prison term Wednesday when sentenced for stealing nearly $150,000 worth of vintage guitars in Naperville.

Mark A. Carrothers pleaded guilty Jan. 5 to the theft for stealing two dozen Gibson guitars in September 2007 out of a trailer in a restaurant parking lot near Route 59 and I-88.

The guitars were part of the vaunted guitar company's traveling exhibit. Carrothers, 35, faced probation or up to 15 years in prison.

Instead, DuPage Circuit Judge John Kinsella sentenced him to 90 days jail, 250 hours of community service and four years' probation. Carrothers will be allowed to leave jail each day for work, but he must return at night.

Defense attorney Brian Telander argued a remorseful Carrothers deserved a second chance because he returned most of the stolen guitars, pleaded guilty, lacked a serious criminal history and had a good job with children to support.

Carrothers also is a longtime Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor who has helped others with their sobriety.

But Assistant State's Attorney Mary Cronin fought for a prison term for the brazen crime.

"It's not like he fell off the wagon and did it out of desperation for the money," Cronin said. "He's just a thief."

Carrothers also must pay $19,000 in restitution for the other missing guitars.

He was arrested about three weeks after the crime when police, acting on an anonymous tip, hunted him down for questioning. Initially, he denied any involvement, Cronin said, but confessed after confronted with video surveillance footage that captured his Ford Explorer in the lot at the time of the theft.

Carrothers, of 8340 Parish Place, Highland, Ind., must turn himself in to the DuPage County jail next month to begin serving his stint behind bars. At least one other person may have been involved in the theft, but police have not identified him.