Naperville robber gets six years in prison

A Naperville man was sentenced Tuesday to six years in prison for robbing a local pizza place to help his mother pay bills.

Charlie Nicholson Jr., 19, pleaded guilty to a felony armed robbery charge in exchange for the sentence.

DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Joe Lindt said Nicholson entered Papa John's Pizza, 1220 W. Ogden Ave., around 9 p.m. June 10 and demanded money from two employees, including a store manager.

Wielding a handgun and wearing a bandanna partially over his face, Nicholson fled after being given an undisclosed sum from a cash register.

Lindt said a Naperville police officer later saw Nicholson in the area of the robbery and noticed he matched a description of the robber.

A subsequent search of Nicholson's home turned up the stolen money, as well as the gun and a shopping bag used in the robbery. Lindt said Nicholson told police he committed the robbery to help his mother pay bills.

Nicholson could have faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted at trial. Judge George Bakalis noted his age in accepting the minimum-sentence plea bargain.

“When you get out of the penitentiary, you've got to change your lifestyle,” Bakalis told the defendant. “You're a young man. I can only advise you to get out of jail and put this behind you.”