Lombard Salvation Army thief sentenced, released from jail

A modern-day grinch was ordered released from DuPage County Jail on Friday with orders to stay out of trouble or go back to jail.

Kavin Gipson, 48, of Hillside, and another man, Roosevelt Huddleston, 51, of Bellwood are accused of stealing a Salvation Army donation bucket a week before Christmas, outside a Lombard grocery and then leading police on a high-speed chase.

Gipson pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer and theft before he was sentenced to 100 days in jail, of which he has already served the required 50 days, and two and a half years of probation.

Judge John Kinsella, who accused Gipson of “making a very stupid decision,” also strongly suggested Gipson spend some time volunteering at a local Salvation Army.

Gipson told the judge he fell into drug abuse and hard times following the recent death of his mother.

Prosecutors said the men approached a Salvation Army bucket outside the store around 7 p.m. Dec. 18 while the bell ringer was inside the store. While Huddleston acted as a lookout, Gipson took the bucket.

Prosecutors said the men then fled in a car driven by Gipson and led police on a high-speed chase through a residential area before they were taken into custody.

“Stealing is wrong but, on top of that, stealing from the Salvation Army smacks of audacity that doesn't speak well for you,” Kinsella told Gipson. “And then you run from police? Thank God nothing else bad happened and you came to your senses and surrendered.”

Gipson had been held on 20,000 bail since his Dec. 18 arrest. Huddleston remains held on $20,000 bail as he awaits his trial.