Two years probation, fines for man's charged in Hampshire camera theft
A 27-year-old man was sentenced this week to two years of probation after being charged in the theft of more than $10,000 of camera equipment from his neighbor in Hampshire in 2019.
Layton J. Jones, formerly of the 1000 block of Turin Drive, Hampshire but who now lives in Evanston, was arrested in August 2019 and charged with residential burglary, theft of more than $10,000 but less than $100,000 and forgery, all felonies, after his neighbor on the 1000 block of Turin Drive reported camera equipment missing from his townhouse.
Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of felony forgery in exchange for Kane County prosecutors dismissing other, more severe charges including residential burglary, which carried a top prison term of 15 years, according to court records.
The victim, a professional photographer, became suspicious in July 2019 after realizing cameras and lenses were missing from his house, according to a search warrant.
The victim woke up the night of July 30 to check his rear sliding door and found it was unlocked. The next day, Jones, who was using a fake name, went to the victim's house acting "distraught" that one of his friends had been killed in Chicago, according to a search warrant.
Jones was talking on his phone with his back turned when the victim heard a "click" and later noticed his rear door had been unlocked, according to the warrant. The victim also reported a personal check missing from his house that had been cashed for $500 in Skokie.
Police ran the license plates of cars parked in Jones' driveway, learned his real identity and that Jones had visited pawnshops in Stone Park, Franklin Park and Skokie. Four camera lenses sold at Stone Park pawnshop matched items the victim had reported stolen, as did a Nikon camera and four other lenses sold at the Franklin Park location, according to the search warrant.
A message left with Jones' attorney, Nicholas Giordano, was not returned.
Jones must pay $2,429 in court fines and fees under the sentence issued by Kane County Judge D.J. Tegeler, records show. Jones also can be resentenced to up to five years in prison if he violates his probation.