Kildeer woman sentenced to 2 years for retail thefts

Anifa Ivanov's explanation for missing her November court date didn't impress Cook County Court Judge Thomas Fecarotta, who responded by issuing a no-bail, bond forfeiture warrant for the Kildeer woman. charged with retail theft.

Ivanov, 25, left the court's jurisdiction after Fecarotta indicated — following a conference with prosecutors and Ivanov's defense attorney — that he would sentence her to two years in prison in exchange for her guilty plea to retail theft. The charge is a class 3 felony punishable by two to five years in prison.

“I'm sorry. I ask for forgiveness,” said Ivanov, who claimed fear for her children, especially her newborn, motivated her behavior.

Fecarotta didn't buy her explanation.

“You took off because you didn't want to go to prison,” said the judge, who called Ivanov's behavior stupid.

Yet, the transgression had no impact on her sentence. Because Ivanov surrendered the day after he issued the warrant, Fecarotta said he would impose the original two-year sentence for thefts authorities say she committed in March and April 2010.

In exchange, Ivanov admitted taking food and entertainment items from a Palatine Dominick's store on April 2. She hid the items, which totaled about $279, in a sack hidden under her skirt, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Gerber during a hearing Thursday in Rolling Meadows.

Fecarotta also sentenced Ivanov to two years in prison for stealing merchandise from Cabela's, an outfitters store in Hoffman Estates on March 9. According to Gerber, Ivanov replaced the sales tag on a sonar GPS system for a tag with a lower price.

The sentences will run concurrent. Ivanov received credit for 57 days in custody. She must serve at least 50 percent of her sentence before she is eligible for parole.