Former Wal- Mart employee charged with stealing electronics

A Round Lake Beach man is facing up to five years in prison after being charged with stealing around $3,000 in electronic equipment from his former employer.

Isaias Solano, 18, of the 2000 block of Evergreen Street, was a clerk in the electronics department at the Wal-Mart in Round Lake Beach and is charged with felony theft.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Turk said store officials became suspicious when they found several empty iPod boxes in the employee bathroom in late March.

Turk said Solano and other employees were put under surveillance and on March 24, Solano was watched as he took $525 worth of iPods out of the store and handed them over to a pair of juveniles.

On March 26, Turk said Solano took iPods valued at $450 out of the store and again handed them over to the juveniles, who have not yet been identified.

Police went to question Solano about those incidents on Friday, and say that Solano admitted to them as well as several other thefts.

Turk said police estimate Solano took around $3,000 worth of iPods and video games starting in mid-January.

During a bond hearing Saturday, Solano told Associate Judge Christopher Stride he intends to represent himself in the case.

"I hope you will reconsider that decision," Stride said. "You may be a very bright guy, but you could be sitting in prison for five years if this goes the wrong way for you and should probably hire an attorney."

Stride released Solano on his signature and ordered him to return to court April 30.