Crystal Lake man headed to prison boot camp

A Crystal Lake man was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison after admitting he used a stun gun to rob a man who was doing him a favor by giving him a ride.

But he could instead find himself spending six months in a prison boot camp.

Bradley M. West, 21, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and an unrelated residential burglary charge as part of a plea deal that allowed him to avoid a potential 30-year prison term.

As part of the agreement, a McHenry County judge recommended West be admitted to the Illinois Department of Corrections Impact Incarceration program, a six-month boot camp for young offenders. If West graduates from the program, he will not have to serve his full eight-year term.

The robbery occurred Nov. 20 after the victim met West at a Best Buy store in Crystal Lake and agreed to give him a ride to a business in Lake in the Hills, police said.

During the ride, Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Ryan Blackney said Wednesday, West pulled out a stun gun and ordered the victim to empty his pockets.

"He told the victim the stun gun would kill him," Blackney said.

West took about $35 cash from the victim, as well as two $25 gift cards, before running off. Lake in the Hills police arrested West a short time later when he was spotted walking in the area of the robbery.

The residential burglary charge stemmed from accusations West stole a jewelry box containing 15 to 20 items from an Algonquin home in September. West's fingerprints were found in the residence and police later recovered the jewelry box from him.