Man who stole from Aurora mall, shoved cop, sent to prison
A 45-year-old Chicago man with a long criminal history was sentenced to 6½ years in prison Thursday after his conviction for felony retail theft and aggravated battery to a police officer.
Shawn Gosa, of the 700 block of Lotus Street, was convicted in December of shoving a police officer after stealing $900 worth of merchandise in August 2011 from Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora.
Because of his past, which included seven convictions since 1995, he was eligible for an extended term of up to 10 years in prison.
Kane County Judge John Barsanti issued the sentence, which also included a $450 fine, according to court records.
According to prosecutors, Gosa was caught on video removing some $900 worth of merchandise from several stores at the outlet mall on Aug. 5, 2011. Police were called and Gosa shoved an officer, handed the bag of merchandise to an accomplice and then fled. A second officer tackled Gosa in the parking lot, prosecutors said.
Gosa can have his sentence cut in half for good behavior in prison.
“Mr. Gosa is a career criminal who has been removed from the street and placed behind bars. Our community is a safer place without him,” State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said after Gosa’s conviction.
A message left with Gosa’s defense attorney, Brian Erwin, was not immediately returned.