Sentence sticks in rape and robbery case

A Lake County judge said Friday he would not reduce the 35-year prison sentence of a North Chicago man who pleaded guilty to a series of armed robberies and sexual assaults against some victims.

Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak rejected a claim by Waukegan attorney Jed Stone that Potkonjak had improperly considered evidence against two of Jermmie Carlisle's co-defendants in determining Carlisle's sentence last October.

Carlisle, 23, Alonzo Amos, 24, of North Chicago and Waukegan residents Ashley Robinson, 23, and Jacob Burnett, 27, were charged with eight armed robberies of retail establishments between Dec. 13, 2007 and March 2, 2008.

The robberies occurred in Waukegan, Gurnee, Round Lake and Zion. Carlisle and Amos were also charged with sexually molesting victims at three robberies.

Carlisle pleaded guilty to armed robbery, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse last August in exchange for a promise his prison sentence would not exceed 40 years.

Stone said Friday he believed Potkonjak considered information he learned in conferences held leading up to guilty pleas from Amos and Robinson in which Carlisle did not participate.

"That information was used to increase the aggravation and diminish the mitigation in my client's case," Stone said. "It was evidence that we were not given the opportunity to contest."

Stone said he believed Potkonjak learned in the conferences that Carlisle was under the influence of Ecstasy given to him by Amos during some of the crimes.

He also said he did not believe Potkonjak considered evidence he presented that Carlisle was a special education student and came from a supportive family.

But Potkonjak said the only evidence he considered against Carlisle was evidence presented at Carlisle's sentencing hearing Oct. 2. He also told Stone he considered all the mitigation evidence presented at that hearing.

"The court is well aware that Mr. Carlisle comes from a supportive family, but yet he still did what he did," Potkonjak said. "He is going to be in prison for 35 years because he did it."

Amos pleaded guilty to the same crimes as Carlisle and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in February.

Robinson was sentenced to 13 years in prison last month after pleading guilty to armed robbery.

Burnett, who was jailed on domestic battery charges after the first heist and was not involved in the other crimes, pleaded guilty to armed robbery and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Stone said he intends to appeal Carlisle's sentence.