Man sentenced to 12 years for 2011 burglaries of Rockford Country Club Pro Shop, Prairie Street Brewhouse

Online Staff Report

James Mabrey, 50, was sentenced July 11 by Judge Rosemary Collins to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of two counts of burglary. The defendant pled guilty to the offense May 17.

Aug. 21, 2011, Rockford police were dispatched to the Rockford Country Club Pro Shop at 2500 Oxford St. in reference to a burglary. Upon arrival, they observed a window had been shattered and most of the glass was on the inside of the Pro Shop. They further observed that the cash drawer was missing from the checkout counter. Two partial shoe impressions were developed on two separate pieces of glass and were preserved.

Aug. 23, 2011, Rockford police were dispatched to Prairie Street Brewhouse at 200 Prairie St., Rockford, at 5:25 a.m. in reference to a burglary. Upon arrival, they observed the wooden door to the business had been forced open. They further observed a cooler inside the business had also been forced open. The surveillance video was reviewed, which indicated a white male walking around the northwest side of the building off and on between 3:45 and 5:22 a.m. An officer who had watched the surveillance later recognized the same individual riding a bicycle.

Mabrey was arrested for the Prairie Street Brewhouse burglary. The shoe print lifts recovered from the Rockford Country Club Pro Shop burglary and shoes belonging to Mabrey were submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for comparison. The crime lab determined the two impressions were made by the pair of shoes belonging to Mabrey.

Burglary is a class 2 felony with a sentencing range of three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. However, because of the defendant’s previous criminal history, class X sentencing applies, which carries a sentencing range of six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Posted July 13, 2012

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