Jailed man faces additional charge for '09 robbery

An 18-year-old Chicago man currently in Cook County jail awaiting trial for attempted murder has been charged with robbing a Bartlett convenience store last September.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Edward Pietrucha set bail at $500,000 for Martez Easter, charged with armed robbery of a 7-11 in the 100 block of East Lake Street on Sept. 26, 2009.

Easter, of the 9900 block of South Torrence, entered the store about 2:40 a.m. and purchased chips and cookies, said Assistant State's Attorney Adam Klugman. Leaving those items on the counter, he pointed a chrome-plated handgun at the clerk and demanded money from the register, Klugman said. Easter exited with about $300 from two cash registers, but left behind the chips and cookies, Klugman said.

Police recovered those items and sent them for analysis to the Illinois State Police which matched a fingerprint to Easter, said Klugman, who attributed the delay in filing charges to the time required for forensic analysis.

Court records show that about three weeks after the robbery, Easter was charged with attempted murder. He remains in custody on a $750,000 bail.

If convicted of armed robbery, Easter could face six to 30 years in prison. He next appears in court on May 13.