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Man Gets 30 Years for West Loop Home Invasion, Assault

By  Lizzie Schiffman Tufano and Erin Meyer | March 19, 2014 1:46pm 

 Derrick Baldwin sneaked into the homes of three North Side women and photographed two while they were sleeping, authorities said. He was caught after sexually assaulting a fourth woman, prosecutors charged on Jan. 10, 2013.
Derrick Baldwin sneaked into the homes of three North Side women and photographed two while they were sleeping, authorities said. He was caught after sexually assaulting a fourth woman, prosecutors charged on Jan. 10, 2013.
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Cook County Sheriff

CHICAGO — A man who illegally entered homes to photograph sleeping women with his cellphone camera was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday.

Derrick Baldwin, 34, was arrested in late 2012 after an alleged string of home invasions that ended with a break-in and sexual assault of a 29-year-old woman in her West Loop home.

When Baldwin, of the 2200 block of North Halsted Street, was arrested, police said they found photos on his phone that tied him to four home invasions and one sexual assault. 

On Aug. 15, 2012, Baldwin broke into a River North apartment, snapping photos of a woman's legs before she woke up, spotted him and screamed, causing Baldwin to flee, Assistant State's Attorney Stephanie Buck said at the time of his arrest.

A few days later, on Aug. 18, 2012, Baldwin broke into another River North apartment, fleeing when a woman awoke and found him standing by her roommate's bedroom door, prosecutors said.

Then, on Oct. 6, 2012, Baldwin broke into a woman's Old Town home, partially undressed her and photographed her bare buttocks, Buck said. He also photographed an electric bill that contained personal information, she said.

Baldwin was arrested in November 2012, after he broke into a home in the 500 block of West Kinzie Street on Oct. 28 and sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman, police said. Police then found his phone with the images of the other women.

Baldwin later was identified in a lineup by the sexual assault victim, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. During his trial, two other victims testified that photos of them found on his cellphone were taken while they were sleeping and without their consent.

Cook County Judge Maura Slattery-Boyle sentenced Baldwin to 30 years in prison Tuesday.