Woman sentenced to 13 years for 2011 robbery of 91-year-old woman in Hilander parking lot

Online Staff Report

Vivica Thomas, 35, pled guilty to robbery and was sentenced by Judge Rosemary Collins to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by two years mandatory supervised release. The defendant also pled guilty to aggravated battery and was sentenced to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections followed by one year mandatory supervised release. The sentences will be served concurrently.

Aug. 14, 2011, Rockford police officers stopped a suspect vehicle from a robbery that had occurred at Hilander, 3710 N. Main St. The vehicle had been followed by a witness after a 91-year-old woman had her purse taken by Thomas as she was opening a door to her vehicle. The victim had tried to hold onto her purse, but the female used her hands to push the victim down to the ground and then took the purse and fled in a vehicle. Witnesses positively identified Thomas as the person who pushed the victim and took the purse.

Robbery is a class 2 felony with a sentencing range of three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections; however, because the victim was older than 60, it is a class 1 felony that carries a sentencing range of four to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Aggravated battery is a class 3 felony with a sentencing range of two to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Posted May 11, 2012