Vernon Hills teen gets probation for DUI

A Vernon Hills teen was placed on probation for two years Friday after pleading guilty to stealing from gym lockers at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

Aerin Nilsen, 18, of the 200 block of Old Creek Road, also pleaded guilty to drunken driving in connection with a July 16 car crash in Lake Zurich.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Bolling Haxall said a locker room attendant at Stevenson saw Nilsen coming out of the locker room on May 8 and made her identify herself.

Police were called after nine girls reported their wallets and iPods were missing, Haxall said.

Three of the iPods were sold at a Mundelein pawnshop, and Nilsen and Sarah Howell, 18, of the 6000 block of Windham Lane in Long Grove, used one of the stolen credit cards to buy gasoline and cigarettes.

Howell pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft July 28 and was placed on court supervision.

While on bond for felony theft, Nilsen crashed her car in Lake Zurich on July 28 and fled on foot, but was charged with misdemeanor DUI after police found her and determined what had happened.

Haxall said he agreed to reduce the felony theft charge against Nilsen to a misdemeanor in exchange for guilty pleas in both cases.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak also ordered Nilsen to complete 300 hours of public service and substance abuse counseling. He also told her to pay $2,177 in restitution.