Police: St. Charles robbers targeted two $2,000 bongs
Two men accused of an armed robbery at a St. Charles tobacco shop earlier this year made off with two marijuana water pipes, each with a price tag of $2,000, according to Kane County court records and a search warrant.
Jacob M. Fahey, 21, and Rayshawn M. Vonperbandt, 20, both of St. Charles, are accused of robbing Tobacco and Gifts, 1556 E. Main St., on Jan. 4.
According to an affidavit used to secure search warrants for their cellphones, they stole a multicolored glass blown pipe with a tripod base, and another with a coral and dark-colored shark sitting atop the coral.
Two people told police they received a Facebook message from a person later identified as Vonperbandt trying to sell the shark bong for $1,600 or finding a trade for it, the affidavit states.
Detectives later used that information to identify Vonperbandt. They searched his car and found a knife that matched the description from one of two robbery witnesses, according to the affidavit.
Detectives used Facebook to hone in on Fahey and eventually searched his home, where authorities found a black pellet gun and clothing that matched the description of one of the robbers, authorities said.
Vonperbandt later admitted to the robbery in a recorded statement, the warrant states.
Both were being held at the Kane County jail and face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of armed robbery.
Probation in stalking case
A West Chicago man charged with stalking his estranged wife outside a Batavia movie theater last year recently pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and was sentenced to two years probation, according to Kane County court records and his attorney.
Mark A. Boelkens, 46, of the 3N600 block of Locust Avenue, was arrested last October and charged with felony stalking and other offenses after he spotted his estranged wife and another man coming out of the Randall 15 movie theater and drove after them, according to a police report.
Under a plea agreement accepted by Judge Thomas Stanfa, prosecutors reduced the charges to misdemeanor reckless conduct, records shows.
Defense attorney Scott Larson said Boelkens and his estranged wife had different stories on whether he hit her car or whether she stopped suddenly to cause a crash.
"He suspected his wife was cheating. He discovered his wife coming out of a theater with another man," Larson said, adding his client cooperated with police. "He had no prior criminal history this. He's a good citizen and a good father."
Larson said Boelkens also must complete an evaluation, and if he violates his probation, he could be resentenced to up to a year in jail.
The couple are getting a divorce.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com