COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The Lakeview purse snatcher who was detained by three good Samaritans earlier this year has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a string of robberies.
Jaleel Johnson, 19, was arrested May 18 after he allegedly followed a woman into her apartment building in the 3100 block of North Southport Avenue and stole her purse just before 10 p.m.
Three men who saw the attack chased Johnson through a gangway and caught up with him in the parking lot of Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., according to police.
Johnson told police that voices in his head tell him what to do, and that he'd followed the 21-year-old victim for several blocks before attacking, an arrest report said.
Johnson has been in Cook County Jail awaiting trial since May, when his bond was set at $250,000 in the robbery case.
Since then, prosecutors have filed additional charges against Johnson for armed robbery (without a gun), robbery and attempted armed robbery. Details of those cases were not immediately available. It is common for inmates to face additional charges if new evidence arises in old cases.
Last week, Cook County Judge James Obbish sentenced Johnson to seven years in prison for the May 18 attack. When Johnson is released, he'll be subject to two years of mandatory court supervision, the judge ruled.
Johnson was also convicted of attempted armed robbery, robbery and armed robbery (without a gun) in the additional cases, with sentences ranging from seven to 12 years, according to court records.
Obbish said Johnson could serve the sentences concurrently, and credited Johnson with serving 207 days in county lockup.
Johnson's expected parole date is June 11, 2019, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
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