A Waukegan man has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to sexually assault a female employee at a McDonald’s in Waukegan after she walked into a restroom.
Lavert J. Jones, 34, of Waukegan, was initially charged in April 2023 with one count of aggravated battery and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Additional charges of attempted sexual assault, public indecency and unlawful restraint were later filed.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle Doyle said at the time of the incident that an employee of a McDonald’s in Waukegan went into the women’s restroom on April 27, 2023.
She went into a stall and when she came out of it, a man, later identified as Jones, came out of a different stall.
Jones’ pants and underwear were pulled down and his genitals were exposed, Doyle said.
Doyle said Jones pushed the woman back into the stall and she started yelling.
Doyle said that Jones began grabbing at the woman’s belt as the victim continued yelling.
She was able to push past Jones and run out of the bathroom.
The Waukegan Police Department responded to the scene and arrested Jones, who appeared intoxicated.
Jones was placed in a holding cell at the police station and began committing a lewd act on himself multiple times in front of a female officer, Doyle said.
Lake County Judge Stacey Seneczko ordered Jones held on a $200,000 bond. He has remained held in the Lake County Jail since his arrest.
Court records show Jones entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office earlier this month.
He pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal sexual assault, a Class 2 felony, and one count of unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony.
A Lake County judge sentenced Jones to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) pursuant to the agreement.
He will receive 500 days of credit for time served. IDOC records show Jones, who will be required to register as a sex offender, is projected to be released in October 2025.