DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh has sentenced Anthony Lane, 55 (d.o.b. 6/6/1968) formerly of Glendale Heights to fifty-eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for breaking into an elderly woman’s home and sexually assaulting her in November 2021. On January 10, 2024, following a three-day-long trial and approximately two hours of deliberations, a jury found Lane guilt of one count of Home Invasion (Class X Felony) and three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault (Class X Felony). On December 6, 2021, Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh set bond at $5 million with 10% to apply. Lane has been held in custody at the DuPage County Jail since that time.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that the second of two men charged with breaking into homes in Wheaton and Lombard and shooting a homeowner in August 2020 has been sentenced to seventy-two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). Isaiah Johnson, 24 (d.o.b. 7/26/1999) formerly of Blue Island, appeared at his sentencing hearing today in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell, who handed down the sentence. On August 2, 2023, Johnson entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Attempt Murder (Class X Felony) and one count of Home Invasion (Class X Felony). Judge O’Connell imposed a sentence of forty-two years for attempt murder to be served at 85% and a consecutive sentence of thirty years for home invasion to be served at 50%. In all, Johnson will be required to serve 50.7 years before being eligible for parole. On March 18, 2024, Judge O’Connell sentenced Johnson’s co-defendant, Malik Pitts, 25 (d.o.b. 7/29/1998) formerly of Broadview, to sixty years in the IDOC after Pitts had earlier entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Attempt Murder, one count of Home Invasion and one count of Attempt Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony).

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Fight Crime: Invest in Kids recently honored DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin with the Organization’s 2024 Champion for Kids Award at its annual Day at the Capitol event held last week in Springfield. Among other notable accomplishments, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids lauded Berlin for his yearslong support of solutions that steer kids away from crime and toward successful lives. Berlin, who sits on the Organization’s Illinois Executive Committee, was one of only six recipients nationwide of the 2024 Champion for Kids Award. Sean Noble, Illinois State Director for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, presented the award to Berlin in front of law enforcement colleagues, legislators and fellow Fight Crime: Invest in Kids members at the Illinois Capitol Building.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that one of two men charged with breaking into homes in Wheaton and Lombard and shooting a homeowner in August 2020 has been sentenced to sixty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Malik Pitts, 25 (d.o.b. 7/29/1998) formerly of Broadview, appeared at his sentencing hearing today in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell, who handed down the sentence. On July 31, 2023, Pitts entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Attempt Murder (Class X Felony), one count of Home Invasion (Class X Felony) and one count of Attempt Child Pornography (Class 2 Felony). Judge O’Connell imposed a sentence of 35 years for attempt murder, a consecutive sentence of 25 years for home invasion and a concurrent 12-year sentence for attempt child pornography. In all, Pitts will be required to serve 41.5 years before being eligible for parole. The case against Pitt’s co-defendant Isaiah Johnson, 24 (d.o.b. 7/26/1999), of Blue Island continues with Johnson due back in court on March 29, 2024, for a sentencing hearing.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Addison Chief of Police Roy Selvik announced today that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for two Chicago men accused of robbing an Addison gas station at gunpoint. Willie Carter, 24 (d.o.b. 1/14/2000) of the 8300 block of S. Aberdeen Street and Anton Stephens, 24 (d.o.b. 11/1/1999) of the 1200 block of S. Spaulding Avenue, each appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with two counts of Armed Robbery with a Firearm (Class X Felony) and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon (Class 2 Felony). In addition, Stephens is facing one count of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding a Police Officer (Class 4 Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that a former Chicago man has been sentenced to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for hijacking a woman’s car at gunpoint from her garage in late 2019. Martavious Robinson, who was a juvenile at the time of the offense and was transferred to adult court at the State’s request, now 21 (d.o.b. 7/30/2002) appeared at his sentencing this afternoon in front of Judge Michael Reidy, who handed down the sentence. On June 28, 2023, following a two-day trial and approximately four hours of deliberations, a jury found Robinson guilty of one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, a Class X Felony. Robinson’s co-defendants, Emanuel Embry and Daysean Washington-Davis have each previously entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking in front of Judge Reidy, who sentenced each man to forty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

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On January 19, 2024, the Will County Regional Office of Education, Professional Development Alliance, the DuPage County Regional Office of Education, and the Northern Illinois School Safety Administrator Association (NISSAA) co-sponsored the 2024 School Safety Summit at Joliet Junior College.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin was a presenter at the event, discussing the role, function, and benefits of mutual aid partnerships for school safety. Berlin specifically discussed DuPage County’s new DuPage County School Mutual Aid Response Team (DuSMART). Berlin was joined by DuPage County State’s Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Smith (Chief of the Civil Bureau) and John Heiderscheidt (DuPage County School Safety Specialist) when discussing DuSMART.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Hanover Park Chief of Police Andrew Johnson announced today that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to detain pre-trial a Hanover Park man and a Palatine woman charged with carjacking and crashing multiple vehicles in Hanover Park and Itasca. Ricardo Ortega, 26 (d.o.b. 1/30/1997) of the 5600 block of Pebblebeach Drive and Alicia Merlin-Barrera, 24 (d.o.b. 11/26/1999) of the 400 block of Palatine Road, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning each charged with two counts of Vehicular Hijacking (Class 1 Felony), one count of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint (Class 3 Felony), one count of Aggravated Reckless Driving Causing Great Bodily Harm or Disfigurement (Class 4 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanors including Criminal Damage to Property and Battery.

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The year 2023 was an extremely busy one for public safety in DuPage County. We sat down with Bob to talk about some of his and the office’s proudest accomplishments in the last year. Here’s what we came up with, with the accomplishments listed in no particular order.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today law enforcement in DuPage County continues to be on high alert this holiday shopping season charging fifteen individuals in the past five days accused of stealing merchandise from DuPage County retail establishments.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly announced today that Judge George Ford granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Chicago man charged with trafficking young women into prostitution. Heggie Carr, of the 7000 block of Cregier Avenue, appeared in First Appearance Court this morning facing two counts of Involuntary Servitude (Class X Felony) and two counts of Trafficking in Persons for Labor (Class 1 Felony).

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On November 27, 2023, FOX 32 News reported on the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutions of retail theft offenders in DuPage County.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Addison Deputy Chief of Police Roy Selvik and FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office Robert “Wes” Wheeler announced today that Judge Michael Fleming granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for one of several individuals suspected of robbing at gunpoint two BMO Harris branch offices located in DuPage County. Kenneth Eggleston, 30 (10/3/1993) of the 9200 block of Princeton Avenue, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with two counts of Armed Violence (Class X Felony), two counts of Armed Robbery with a Firearm, (Class X Felony), one count of Attempt Armed Robbery with a Firearm (Class 1 Felony), two counts of Financial Institution Robbery (Class 1 Felony), two counts of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (Class 2 Felony), one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (Class 2 Felony) and four counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 3 Felony).

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that yesterday Judge Jeffrey MacKay has sentenced Julius Ramsey, 41 (d.o.b. 8/17/1982) formerly of Chicago, to eighty-eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for sexually assaulting at gunpoint, a female employee of an Oak Brook hotel in the fall of 2019. On May 20, 2021, following a three-day-long trial, a jury found Ramsey guilty of three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault with a Firearm (Class X Felony), one count of Aggravated Kidnapping with a Firearm (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class 2 Felony).

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The Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce honored DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin today with the Chamber’s Denny Hiffman Inspiring Leader Award at its annual Leadership Luncheon Award Ceremony held this afternoon at the Oak Brook Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse. The Chamber recognized Berlin for his yearslong aggressive protection of area retailers and shoppers from organized retail theft and violent criminals as well as his efforts that proved to be instrumental in amending the State’s new Safe-T-Act. ., Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber and Denny Hiffman presented the award to Berlin in front of approximately one hundred and fifty attendees including more than a dozen elected officials as well as leaders in the Oak Brook and Oak Brook Terrace communities.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Wood Dale Chief of Police Chris Zito announced today that Judge Joshua Dieden granted the State’s motion to deny pre-trial release for a Cook County man accused of leading Chief Zito on a high-speed chase. Angelo Martinez, 28 (d.o.b. 6/3/1995) of the 3500 block of E. Frontage Road, Rolling Meadows, appeared at First Appearance Court this morning charged with two counts of Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding (Class 4 Felony) and multiple Misdemeanor and petty traffic offenses including Reckless Driving and Driving While License Suspended, both Class A Misdemeanors.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin has announced that three initiatives proposed in his office’s 2023 legislative package have been signed into law.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Addison Director of Police Timothy “Bill” Hayden announced today that bond has been denied for a Chicago man accused of robbing an Addison Verizon store at gunpoint. Diamonte Walls, 25 (d.o.b. 7/31/1998) of the 9200 block of S. Bishop Street, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh granted the State’s motion to deny bond. Walls is charged with one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm (Class X Felony) and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 2 Felony). 

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When there was a shooting at Oakbrook Center two days before Christmas in 2021, various law enforcement agencies quickly became involved, starting with nearly 300 police officers from Oak Brook and other communities who arrived at the scene.

The work of officers from several DuPage County departments, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office all were part of the response to the incident and the ensuing investigation. But one other organization, more behind-the-scenes than the others, also played a key role in the work that led to two suspects being charged in the incident.

This story takes a look at that organization, the DuPage County Crime Forensic Science Center (FSC) located in Wheaton, Illinois, and a division of the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office.

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DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Glendale Heights Chief of Police George Pappas announced today that bond has been denied for a man accused of entering a Glendale Heights home and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl. Carlos Espinales-Guevara, 25 (d.o.b. 4/19/1998) of the 200 block of Gladstone Drive, appeared at a bond hearing this morning where Judge Daniel Guerin granted the State’s Motion to deny bond. Espinales-Guevara is charged with one count of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault – Victim Under 13 and one count of Home Invasion – Sex Offense. Both charges are a Class X Felony.

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