St. Charles burglar gets 6 years in prison

A St. Charles man has been sentenced to six years in prison for stealing a rifle in a burglary two years ago, prosecutors said Thursday.

Douglas A. Cameron, 36, was convicted of residential burglary in September by Kane County Circuit Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon, who sentenced him Wednesday. By law, he must serve at least half of the six-year term, with credit for 48 days already served in the county jail.

Prosecutors said Cameron kicked in the door of an apartment on 15th Street in St. Charles and stole a rifle on April 6, 2007. Two weeks later, police responding to an unrelated call found the gun, which had been reported stolen, in Cameron's possession.

Cameron waived his right to a jury trial and was convicted of a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison after a bench trial in front of Sheldon.

Kane County court records show Cameron was convicted of robbery and sentenced to three years in prison in 1993; more serious charges of murder and armed robbery were dismissed. His background also includes convictions for battery and speeding more than 40 mph over the limit.