Round Lake man pleads not guilty to tying up robbery victim
A Round Lake man accused of robbing and tying up a 79-year-old woman in her bathroom pleaded not guilty to aggravated kidnapping in Lake County court Thursday.
Robert Frisbie, 34, of the 100 block of Orchard Street, faces up to 30 years in prison if found guilty of binding the victim during a January home invasion and robbery, said Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Matt DeMartini.
Frisbie remains held in Lake County jail on $250,000 bond. He is due back in court July 11.
Frisbie has previously pleaded not guilty to aggravated robbery, residential burglary, trespassing to a residence and disorderly conduct after authorities said he broke into the woman's home brandishing a BB gun and wearing a mask on Jan. 31.
He pushed past the victim into her home about 9 p.m. and forced the woman to retrieve $200. He used electrical tape to bind her in her bathroom, authorities said.
“While having his identity secretly hidden by a mask, he confronted her, put her in a bathroom, and bound her hands with tape,” DeMartini said. “That led to the charge of aggravated kidnapping.”
The woman was not injured, authorities said. She escaped and went to a neighbor where she phoned police.
While the investigation into the robbery continued, authorities said, Frisbie called the Round Lake Police Department and reported that a man wearing a mask had pushed past him into his home with a gun and robbed him of $250 and a large television set.
During the investigation, police discovered Frisbie pawned the television at a Round Lake Beach pawnshop, authorities said. Police then questioned Frisbie about the robbery involving the 79-year-old woman because of the similarities in the two cases. Authorities said Frisbie eventually confessed to pawning his own items, then robbing the woman.
The trial is expected to start July 29.