Getaway car driver in Lake Co. robbery spree pleads guilty

A Waukegan woman who drove the getaway car during a string of armed robberies pleaded guilty Thursday and agreed to testify against her co-defendants.

In exchange for her cooperation, Ashley Robinson, 21, will face a maximum prison sentence of 15 years when she returns to court Sept. 22.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Bolling Haxall said Robinson assisted Alonzo Amos, Jermmie Carlisle and Jacob Burnett in eight armed robberies across the county in 2007 and 2008.

The group was charged with stick-ups on Dec. 13, 2007 at an Arby's restaurant in Waukegan; Jan. 14, 2008 at a Game Stop in Waukegan; Jan. 23 at a Subway sandwich shop in Gurnee; Jan. 31 at a Burger King in Gurnee; Feb. 5 at a Radio Shack in Waukegan; March 2 at a Game Stop in Round Lake Beach and a Wendy's in Zion; and March 29 at a Papa John's Pizza in Waukegan.

Burnett, 25, of Waukegan was jailed on an unrelated domestic battery charge after the first robbery, and pleaded guilty to robbery in August, 2008 in exchange for six years in prison.

Amos, 22, of Waukegan and Carlisle, 21, of North Chicago, face multiple counts of armed robbery and are held on $2 million bond.

Each count of armed robbery carries a mandatory prison sentence of six to 30 years.

Carlisle is also charged with molesting a young girl at one of the robberies and raping female employees at two other locations.

Haxall said he agreed to reduce the charge against Robinson to aggravated robbery in exchange for her plea and the testimony.

Amos is due in court Aug. 28, and Carlisle is scheduled to appear Sept. 25.