BEVERLY — A residential burglar who targeted homes in North Beverly could face mandatory prison time if convicted, according to the Cook County State's Attorney.
Darryl Williams, 50, of the Near West Side would face a mandatory prison sentence of 6-30 years if found guilty, a spokesman for State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said they will pursue the stern sentence as a result of Williams' extensive criminal history. The latest incident occurred at 7:25 a.m. on Feb. 1.
Williams is accused of breaking into a house on Super Bowl Sunday in the 9200 block of South Winchester Avenue in Beverly. He was out of prison only six days before the break-in, court records show.
"By all accounts this is a career criminal who has been in and out of the criminal justice system only to continue to return to the community to terrorize and menace residents,” said Alvarez in a release.
Indeed, Williams has five felony convictions and a lengthy arrest record that dates back to 1981. He's being held at Cook County Jail on a $200,000 bond.
His most recent conviction was in a 2012 aggravated battery case where he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was released on parole on Jan. 26.
Williams was found walking out of the North Beverly home six days later. He was carrying a large jewelry box. A stash of valuables from inside the home — including a small television, briefcase and binoculars — was also found nearby.
Chicago Police arrested Williams at the scene. He had triggered a security alarm and left footprints in the snow leading to a back door that had been kicked in.
Williams is believed to have targeted the Southwest Side neighborhood. Among his many convictions is a residential burglary in 1982 in the 9300 block of South Winchester Avenue in Beverly — less than a block from where he was caught on Feb 1, according to Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th).
O'Shea reached out to Alvarez and the Illinois Department of Corrections in the wake of the Williams' latest arrest. As a result, Alvarez assigned assistant state’s attorneys from her South Side Community Justice Center to the case.
The move is intended to allow O'Shea and his staff, Morgan Park District police and neighborhood residents an opportunity get involved in the prosecution, including speaking out against Williams' actions at the trial, a spokesman for Alvarez said.
“Our community prosecutions approach is designed for these types of cases and my assistants will work closely with the local community to pursue the most significant criminal penalties afforded under the law,” Alvarez said.
In addition to Williams' latest arrest and the 2012 conviction, he was also sentenced to 12 years in prison after a felony conviction in June 1996 related to possession of a stolen vehicle.
Williams was convicted of six felony residential burglaries in May 1990 and was sentenced to 6 years in prison.
His record is also littered with misdemeanors, including convictions for criminal trespassing, domestic battery and simple assault.
Williams' next court appearance will be at his arraignment on Feb. 23 at the Cook County Criminal Court at 2650 South California Ave.
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