Apology helps trim sentence in armed robbery

Remorse shaved some time off Deangelo Jones' prison sentence for the armed robbery he committed in Arlington Heights earlier this year.

Jones, of the 4900 block of W. Jackson St., Chicago, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to the April 29 armed robbery of a 52-year-old Kildeer woman at a downtown parking lot.

Jones and co-defendant Charles Munyi of the 3800 block of W. Ohio St., Chicago, approached the victim at about 11 p.m., said assistant state's attorney Cathy Nauheimer. One of them pointed a .22 caliber gun at her and demanded money and a cell phone. The victim complied and the men fled to their getaway car. The victim took down the license plate number and turned it over to police.

"I sincerely apologize for what happened," said the 22-year-old Jones who has spent time in prison.

In sentencing Jones to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, Cook County Judge John Scotillo acknowledged that "a longer sentence would not be inappropriate" then added that the defendant's remorse and willingness to plead guilty, thus saving the victim the trouble of testifying, factored into his decision.

Munyi's case on the charges is still pending in Cook County court.