A woman was sentenced to probation after officials say she participated in the armed robbery of an elderly man during a home invasion in Woodstock where a suspect tried to steal over $30,000.
Carley K. West, 29, of Rockford, was also charged in February 2024 with home invasion, armed robbery and residential burglary.
A second suspect, Calvin D. Jackson, 29, of Rockford, was charged in February 2024 with home invasion, armed robbery, residential burglary, aggravated identity theft and aggravated assault.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Jackson committed a home invasion around 4:50 p.m. on August 26, 2023, at a residence in the 2600 block of Verdi Street in Woodstock.
Jackson knowingly entered the residence while armed with a weapon while knowing the resident was inside, the complaint said.
The complaint said Jackson threatened the imminent use of force upon the male resident, who was 74 years old.
Jackson and West robbed the victim of an Apple iPhone while armed with a knife, the complaint said.
The complaint said Jackson and West also obtained personal identifying information or a personal identification document belonging to the victim.
Court documents said Jackson entered the home uninvited and held the victim by threat of deadly force.
Jackson, who was wearing a mask, was armed with a large kitchen knife, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Jackson demanded that the victim send him $4,000 using Venmo but the transaction was declined.
Jackson grew agitated and attempted several other transactions totaling $27,510, prosecutors said.
Jackson reportedly became distracted and left the victim unattended, at which point the victim escaped to a neighbor’s house and the neighbor called 911.
Jackson and West fled and took the victim’s phone with them, prosecutors said.
Court documents said Jackson has a prior history of violent offenses and failures to appear in court.
The two suspects were arrested in the 3900 block of Eagle Drive in Rockford shortly after they were charged.
Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb said the victim had been seeking companionship and arranged a meeting online to meet with West, whom he did not know.
Lieb said West was inside the home with the victim when a ruse occurred.
West asked the victim if Jackson, who had already secretly entered the residence, could use the bathroom, Lieb said. A struggle then ensued.
Detectives narrowed in on the two suspects early on in the investigation but conducted a thorough investigation before making the arrests, Lieb said.
Prosecutors said fingerprints and other forensic evidence linked Jackson to the crime scene.
Lieb said the two were only suspected of committing one home invasion in Woodstock.
Jackson was found guilty by a jury in July on the charges of home invasion, armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.
McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen sentenced Jackson to the Illinois Department of Corrections in September.
Jackson was sentenced to 17 years for the home invasion charge, 17 years for the armed robbery charge and 15 years for the attempted armed robbery charge.
The three sentences are being served concurrently for a total of 17 years. Jackson will be required to serve the sentence at 50% in accordance with truth-in-sentencing guidelines.
He will also receive credit for 230 days of time spent in custody.
Court records show West entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.
She pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $500, a Class 3 felony, in exchange for the rest of her charges being dismissed.
West was sentenced to second-chance probation and her conviction will not be entered on her record as long as she complies with the terms of her two years of probation.
She was also ordered to complete 30 hours of public service.