A woman has been sentenced to probation after she was arrested for stealing a gun from a home in Round Lake Park while the resident was sleeping in his bedroom, prosecutors said.
Ariel R. Barr, 31, of Round Lake Park, was initially charged in February 2025 with residential burglary, a Class 1 felony, and possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony.
Prosecutors later dismissed the residential burglary charge and additionally charged her with theft, a Class 3 felony.
The Round Lake Park Police Department responded on the morning of January 26, 2025, to a theft report for a missing firearm.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said the victim told officers that he believed Barr, his former girlfriend, had stolen his gun.
He said that Barr had repeatedly asked for the gun for protection but he refused to allow her to have it.
Officers also learned from a friend of the victim that Barr had repeatedly asked him for the firearm, McConnell said.
McConnell said Barr still had keys to the man’s residence despite being kicked out. The Taurus model 66 revolver was entered as stolen by law enforcement.
Investigators learned that Barr told someone she wanted to shoot herself and shoot her child’s father, McConnell said.
Officers initially spoke with Barr and she told them that her keys to the victim’s house were taken and she did not have the stolen firearm.
The Round Lake Park Police Department later responded on February 10, 2025, to a home in the 500 block of Grandview Drive for a well-being check on Barr.
The caller reported that Barr had threatened to harm herself and he knew that she was in possession of a gun, McConnell said.
Officers obtained an emergency firearm restraining order and searched the residence where they located the stolen revolver.
Barr was arrested and spoke with the police. She admitted to stealing the gun from the victim’s home to protect herself, McConnell said.
McConnell said that Barr told police she stole the gun from the victim’s safe in his bedroom while he was sleeping using the keys she had to his home.
Barr does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card and was also barred from possessing a firearm because she was on probation, McConnell said.
Barr has been held in the Lake County Jail since her arrest after the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain her pending trial, which was granted by Lake County Judge Ari Fisz.
Court records show Barr entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office in November.
She pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony.
In accordance with the plea deal terms, Barr was sentenced to 24 months of probation, 180 days in jail, which was considered served, 200 hours of public service and ordered to have no contact with the victim.
Barr was also ordered not to consume illegal drugs or alcohol.