Vernon Hills man accused of robbing delivery driver pleads not guilty

A Vernon Hills man accused of robbing a sandwich delivery driver pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Benjamin Butler, 25, faces a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years if convicted of armed robbery.

Assistant State's Attorney Bolling Haxall said Butler, of the 200 block of Court of Shorewood, called a local sandwich shop Feb. 12 and placed an order for delivery.

Butler confronted the driver outside his condominium about 12:50 p.m., Haxall said, and sprayed him with pepper spray.

Butler fled with an undisclosed amount of money and some sandwiches, Haxall said, and the driver was treated at a hospital and released.

Police learned Butler had gotten a ride to the Vernon Hills Metra station and alerted Libertyville police who intercepted a train at the Prairie Crossing station and arrested him.

In addition to armed robbery, Butler is charged with aggravated battery, obstruction of justice, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and illegal possession of a hypodermic syringe.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a trial of the case for April 24, and ordered Butler, who is held on $500,000 bond, to appear in court April 8.