COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The man accused of robbing four North and West Side stores at knifepoint was back in court Tuesday on a new robbery charge.
Willie Doles, 40, was held without bail last week after prosecutors alleged he robbed at knifepoint stores in Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and on the Near West Side. In each of the instances, which occurred between May 6 and June 1, Doles bought or pretended to buy an item, then pulled a knife as the cashier rang up the purchase, prosecutors said.
Doles was back in court Tuesday — this time on allegations that he robbed a West Englewood store at knifepoint on April 24.
Eleven days before the alleged robbery, on April 13, Doles was released on parole for a 2008 armed-robbery conviction, which carried a 13-year sentence, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
In the April 24 incident, Doles entered Rent-A-Center at 6920 S. Ashland Ave. about 3:50 p.m. and pulled a knife on two female employees, ages 24 and 59, according to an arrest report. Doles stole $465.39 from the register, and forced the women into a rear office at knifepoint, the report said.
Doles, of the 6900 block of South Oakley Avenue, was charged with armed robbery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.
Doles was previously convicted of nine felonies, including armed robbery, aggravated battery to a peace officer and drug offenses.
Two of those felonies are considered "Class X," Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said during a bond hearing last week. If Doles picks up a third "Class X" conviction, there will be a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Each of three charges prosecutors presented in court Tuesday — as well as the charges brought against Doles last week — are "Class X." That means: Even one conviction will send Doles to prison for life.
Doles lives with his girlfriend and three children in West Englewood, his attorney said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
