Carol Stream man sentenced to 16 years for Naperville armed robbery

The second of two men who pleaded guilty to an armed robbery in Naperville has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Robert Hill, 23, of the 700 block of Bluff Street in Carol Stream, was sentenced Friday by DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan. Brennan on Thursday sentenced Hill's co-defendant, Willie Booker, 23, of the 2000 block of Essex Court in Streamwood, to 18 years in prison.

Both men had pleaded guilty in September to one count of armed robbery.

The men robbed the Speedway gas station at 631 N. Route 59 in October 2017.

Upon reviewing surveillance video and speaking with the victim, Naperville police learned three male subjects wearing masks and gloves had entered the store. One of the men, later identified as Booker, pointed a black and silver gun at the clerk, took the victim's cellphone out of his pocket, and then pointed the handgun at the victim's back and demanded he open the register.

Authorities said Booker got angry with the victim for "stalling" and hit him on the back of the head with the barrel of the gun. He then forced the clerk into a room at the back of the store and placed a trash can against the door to trap the victim inside.

All three robbers then fled.

The police investigation led them to Booker and Hill, who were arrested on Oct. 28, 2017. The third individual remains unknown.

"Less than 24 hours after his co-defendant was sentenced to 18 years behind bars, Mr. Hill learned that he will be going away for 16 years for his role in this violent crime," DuPage State's Attorney Bob Berlin said in a written statement. "Both of these men have certainly earned their sentences, and Naperville is now a safer community with them off the streets."