URBANA — A Rantoul man with several criminal convictions was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison for breaking into a bar where he worked.
Christopher Bradley, 36, who listed an address in the 1000 block of St. Andrew’s Circle, pleaded guilty before Champaign County Judge Heidi Ladd to burglary, admitting that on Nov. 7 he broke into Tams Bar & Grill at 424 S. Century Blvd., Rantoul.
Assistant State’s Attorney Troy Lozar said the business’s video camera was damaged but not disabled so employees were able to identify Bradley as the intruder.
He had prior convictions for residential burglary, burglary, forgery, theft and battery, Lozar said.
In other recent negotiated plea agreements accepted by Ladd:
— Granville Tyler, 50, of the 900 block of South Lierman Avenue, Urbana, was sentenced to four years in prison for burglary. He admitted that on Dec. 26, he entered a home in the 100 block of East University Avenue in Champaign and stole a bag from the 57-year-old resident, who is in a wheelchair and could not pursue him. The victim knew Tyler, Lozar said.
Lozar said Tyler had prior convictions for aggravated battery, theft, possession of a controlled substance, disorderly conduct and battery.
— Jermaine Bunch, 20, who listed an address in the 700 block of Willow Pond Road, Rantoul, pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and was sentenced to two years of probation. Bunch admitted that on Sept. 4, he had a loaded .22-caliber pistol on him on Charles Drive in Rantoul and was threatening to kill people.
Lozar said Bunch was identified by police as a member of the Rantoul-based So Icy street gang. Lozar said Bunch had no prior adult convictions.
— Travis Billingsly, 22, whose last known address was in the 700 block of West Church Street, Champaign, was sentenced to three years in prison for aggravated battery.
He pleaded guilty to punching a 19-year-old man in the head on Aug. 15 at the Firehaus bar, 708 S. Sixth St., C. Billingsly was also ordered to make restitution of $3,290 to the victim, who sustained a broken jaw, Lozar said.
Other charges alleging that Billingsly hit another man, rubbed a woman’s buttocks and possessed cannabis on that same day were dismissed. Lozar said Billingsly was on parole for a drug-related conviction when he was arrested for the aggravated battery.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services