Aurora man who touched women's feet in libraries gets 6 years
An Aurora man is heading to prison for inappropriately touching women's feet in separate cases at the Warrenville Public Library and North Central College's library in Naperville.
Omar Carlton, 45, of the 1000 block of Fifth Avenue, was sentenced Monday to six years in prison by DuPage County Judge Daniel Guerin.
Carlton pleaded guilty in October to two counts of aggravated battery in a public place. Prosecutors cited his extensive criminal history in seeking a 10-year prison sentence based on five years for each count. Carlton's attorney, Robert Stroh, sought a probationary sentence that focused on getting Carlton help for his alcoholism.
During a 27-year span, Carlton has been banned from nine libraries for inappropriately touching women. Most recently he was arrested when he used his bare feet to touch women's feet last year at the Warrenville library and in 2015 at North Central.
Carlton testified during his extended sentencing hearing that he has struggled with alcohol most of his adult life and has a foot fetish. He said he's only been in trouble with the law when he's been drinking.
He has completed nine hours of Alcoholics Anonymous classes while in jail during the past year and said he plans to seek counseling for his fetish.
He has been held on $200,000 bail since his April 2016 arrest.
"Any unwanted touching is a criminal offense, period," DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. "When out in public, people expect and are entitled to go about their business, free from unwanted touching or advances from others. If someone crosses that line, there will be consequences, as Mr. Carlton learned today."
Carlton was sentenced to three years for each count. The sentences will be served consecutively. He will be required to serve half his sentence before being eligible for parole.