Probation, drug treatment for duo charged with stealing from cars

“Your days of smoking dope are over.”

Cook County Judge Ellen Mandeltort made that clear to 21-year-old Kevan McHale and 18-year-old Yanni Stasinakos, who stood before her Wednesday on charges they burglarized several vehicles and garages in Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect last November.

Saying substance abuse issues underscore the six burglary counts facing the duo, Mandeltort sentenced each defendant to 30 months of Treatment Alternative for Safe Communities (TASC) probation, including drug treatment, in exchange for their guilty pleas. The class 2 felonies carry a possible sentence ranging from three to seven years in prison, with probation an option.

McHale, of Arlington Heights, and Stasinakos, of Mount Prospect, declined the court’s offer of treatment while in custody and instead accepted 2½ years probation. Mandeltort warned them if they violate their probation, which includes random drug tests, they cannot come back before her and request in-custody treatment.

“If you fail to complete treatment or if you violate the terms of this probation I will send you to the penitentiary,” Mandeltort said.

McHale and Stasinakos, along with a co-offender, were accused of taking property from several vehicles, some of them parked in garages, from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8, 2011, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Gerber, who did not list the property stolen. The defendants admitted taking the items during interviews with police officers and the property was recovered, Gerber said.