COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A drunken Red Line passenger repeatedly punched a 70-year-old stranger before stealing $5 from the man's wallet this summer "because he was angry," prosecutors said Friday.
Karon Cannon, 24, was inebriated on the "L" when someone or something touched his pocket twice about 2:20 a.m. Aug. 7, Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said during a bond hearing Friday.
After the first touch, prosecutors said, Cannon looked up from his seat to see the 70-year-old victim smiling. The men sat roughly two seats apart.
When Cannon felt a second touch, prosecutors said, he stood up and punched the victim at least five times before grabbing a liquor bottle and using it to repeatedly strike the man in his face and head. Cannon then stole $5 from the victim's wallet, Antonietti said, and exited the train.
The victim was found unconscious in the 3900 block of North Sheridan Road and unable to talk. After a lengthy hospital stay, he recently regained his speech and now resides in a nursing and rehabilitation center, Antonietti said. He suffered abrasions and bruising.
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When police arrested Cannon this week, he admitted to the attack and was able to identify himself in CTA surveillance images, according to prosecutors.
Cannon said he knew the 70-year-old was unarmed, Antonietti said, but "struck the victim because he was angry."
Cannon, of the 1300 block of West Roosevelt Road, is charged with armed robbery and aggravated battery. Prosecutors said he has prior convictions for attempted aggravated robbery, domestic battery and resisting police.
According to his public defender, Cannon lives with his pregnant girlfriend and two-year-old daughter. He is a high-school graduate who attends college part-time and works in retail, the attorney said.
Cook County Judge Michael Clancy set bail at $100,000.
