Chicago Man Charged with Felony Retail Theft Despite Low Value Merchandise
A Chicago man has been charged with eight felony counts of retail theft after allegedly shoplifting from a Lakeview store multiple times in August and September. Despite the stolen merchandise being valued at less than $300, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office upgraded the charges due to the individual’s previous theft-related convictions.
Under the leadership of Kim Foxx, the number of misdemeanor shoplifting cases escalated to felonies based on previous convictions significantly decreased. However, Eileen O’Neill Burke, the current state’s attorney, appears to be enforcing state laws as written, resulting in a resurgence of such cases.
Maxwell Antonian, the accused individual, reportedly conducted eight shoplifting incidents at Marshall’s on North Clark Street. The stolen merchandise ranged from $80 to $225 per theft, as per his arrest report by the Chicago Police Department.
Antonian was apprehended by police in Wrigleyville on New Year’s Eve, where officers recognized him from previous encounters. His string of arrests in Chicago over a few months included incidents at various locations, such as Neiman Marcus, the Town Hall District police station, Target, and Circle K.
Despite a 200-day sentence handed down on October 2 to resolve his multiple cases, Antonian’s criminal activities spanned from petty theft to reckless conduct, indicating a pattern of disruptive behavior.
It seems that the shift in prosecutorial policy under Eileen O’Neill Burke has led to a more stringent approach in addressing repeat offenders and enforcing felony charges for individuals with a history of theft-related offenses.
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