Man gets 35 years for armed robberies, rapes
A North Chicago man was sentenced to 35 years in prison Friday for a string of armed robberies throughout the county and sexual assaults against some victims.
Jermmie Carlisle, 22, will also have to spend the rest of his life on parole and register as a sex offender as long as he is alive.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Bolling Haxall said Carlisle was one of four people who robbed eight retail stores in the county between Dec. 13, 2007 and March 2, 2008. Carlisle, Alonzo Amos, 23, of North Chicago, Ashley Robinson, 23, and Jacob Burnett, 24, of Waukegan, were targets of a massive police manhunt before their arrests.
Police said the group was responsible for armed robberies: Dec. 13, 2007 at an Arby's in Waukegan; Jan. 14, 2008 at a Game Stop in Waukegan; Jan. 23 at a Subway in Gurnee; Jan. 31 at a Burger King in Gurnee; Feb. 5 at a Radio Shack in Waukegan; and March 2 at a Game Stop in Round Lake and a Wendy's in Zion.
Three of the four suspects were arrested March 29, 2008 when police broke up a robbery at a Waukegan Pappa John's restaurant.
In all, police said, thousands of dollars in cash and merchandise were stolen.
Carlisle and Amos were also charged with sexually molesting victims at the March 29, Jan. 23 and Feb. 5 robberies.
Carlisle pleaded guilty Aug. 26 to armed robbery, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse in exchange for a prison sentence not to exceed 40 years.
Haxall said he asked Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak to impose the entire 40-year term allowable under the negotiation, while defense attorney Jed Stone of Waukegan asked for a sentence of 18 years in prison for his client.
Burnett, who was arrested on domestic battery charges after the first robbery and was in jail for the remainder of the crimes, pleaded guilty in August 2008 and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Robinson, who police say was the getaway driver in the robberies, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in July and is awaiting sentencing.
Amos has pleaded not guilty to charges of armed robbery, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He is scheduled to stand trial Nov. 30.