CHICAGO — A West Englewood man accused of sticking up five stores — and busted with a knife outside a Pottery Barn Kids store in Lincoln Park— is just one conviction away from a mandatory life-in-prison sentence, prosecutors said Thursday.
Willie A. Doles, 39, of the 6900 of South Oakley Avenue, was charged Wednesday with five counts of armed robbery and one count of aggravated battery, police said in a statement.
He was held without bond after appearing in court Thursday before Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan, and he will go before a different judge in suburban Maywood for another alleged robbery in Elmwood.
Doles, who previously had been convicted of nine felonies including drug offenses, armed robbery and aggravated battery to police, was arrested in a combined effort between Chicago Police and members of the FBI at 1 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
Doles allegedly was attempting to rob a Pottery Barn Kids store near 2079 N. Lakewood Ave. in Lincoln Park when he was detained by police and discovered to have a knife in his front pocket, prosecutors said.
He had been released on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections just 23 days before the first alleged robbery on May 6, prosecutors said.
In the string of robberies, prosecutors said Doles typically entered businesses under the guise of being a customer, then would threaten the store clerk with a knife and ask for cash.
• The first robbery occurred May 6 about 12:50 p.m. at Green Goddess Boutique, 1648 N. Damen Ave., in Wicker Park, said Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto.
Doles allegedly told the manager of the store that he was buying earrings for his girlfriend. When the manager opened the cash register to complete the purchase, Doles pulled a knife, jumped the counter and demanded that she give him money, Scaduto said.
Doles also asked the manager to be taken to the safe, but she said there wasn't one, prosecutors said. He then took the manager's watch, asked for her purse and dumped out its contents.
The manager then tried to grab the knife from Doles, prosecutors said, and a struggle ensued before Doles ran off. The manager needed four stitches for her wounds.
• A week later, Doles allegedly entered Londo Mondo at 2148 N. Halsted St. in Lincoln Park on May 13 around 1:20 p.m. and again told an employee that he was buying earrings for his girlfriend.
As the employee was ringing him up, she felt Doles rush behind her, grab her waist, put a knife to her side and say he wanted cash, according to prosecutors.
The woman explained that because of the price levels at the boutique, most customers pay by credit card, which angered Doles, Scaduto said.
He then asked to be taken to the safe, and the employee said in a loud voice that there was none, Scaduto said. At that point, another employee in the back of the store heard the commotion, went into a back alley and called 911.
Doles then took the first employee's backpack (which held no cash) and ran off when the second employee came inside the store, prosecutors said.
• Prosecutors said Doles robbed another business in Elmwood May 20. He is scheduled to appear before a suburban judge in that case.
• On May 25 Doles allegedly robbed a Subway at 1525 W. Madison Ave. in the Near West Side, prosecutors said. He was caught on surveillance camera in the Dunkin' Donuts across the street, watching the Subway shop.
Around 1 p.m. Doles bought cookies at Subway and was eating them at a table, prosecutors said. He returned to the counter to buy more cookies when no customers were around, and instead of paying, he pulled out a knife.
The female employee attempted to run away, Scaduto said. Doles chased her, threw her over the counter and trapped her in a back corner behind the counter before taking $550 in case, according to prosecutors.
Doles then fled in a maroon Oldsmobile, which was seen at the scene of at least three robberies, prosecutors said.
• A week later, Doles allegedly robbed Blues Jean Bar at 2210 N. Halsted St. in Lincoln Park about 2:45 p.m. on June 1.
Again, he talked to an employee about purchasing a gift for his girlfriend. As he purchased two pairs of underwear, Doles pulled out a knife, said "Give me all the money" and took $150 cash, according to prosecutors.
After finding out there was no safe, Doles punched buttons on a machine next to the cash register, which the employee told him was a printer, Scaduto said.
He then took the employee's purse, which contained $16, and ran out. Police saw the license plate of the Oldsmobile in surveillance footage from the robbery, prosecutors said.
• Police were following Doles on June 3 when he left home early in the morning, went to a local hospital and had stitches removed, Scaduto said.
Doles then began looking at a Pottery Barn Kids store near 2079 N. Lakewood Ave. in Lincoln Park, where he parked his car in the same spot three times, prosecutors said. Police stopped him as he walked toward the store and found a knife in his front pocket, prosecutors said.
At Doles' bond hearing Thursday, Scaduto said that he already had nine felonies on his record, including two 'Class X' felony convictions. All armed robbery charges Thursday were 'Class X,' and one more conviction would mean mandatory life in prison for Doles, prosecutors said.
A woman in the audience at the bond hearing stood up during his case and began sobbing when she heard about the possible life sentence. The woman declined to comment to DNAinfo Chicago.
Doles lives with his girlfriend and their three children, Scaduto said.
In newsletter, Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) wrote that Doles was the man responsible the robbery Blue Jeans Bar clothing store with a knife Monday afternoon.
"We applaud the efforts of the Chicago Police Department, working with other law enforcement agencies, which resulted in the swift apprehension of this criminal," Smith said in the email. "As a direct result of these crimes, and at my urging, the 18th District has increased patrols along this stretch of the neighborhood. These increased patrols will remain for the foreseeable future."
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