DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A Danville man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for an armed robbery that happened in October of 2023.
According to court records, 23-year-old KeShawn Stapleton had been charged with five felony offenses, including armed robbery and mob action, in addition to a misdemeanor count of obstructing identification. On Monday, he entered a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to a Class 1 felony count of armed robbery, which led to the dismissal of the other charges.
Evidence presented in court revealed that on October 26, 2023, Stapleton was among a group of five Black men who approached an individual heading towards a dumpster near Lewis Street. The group threatened the victim with a gun and stole his backpack containing an Xbox, his cell phone, and the shoes from his feet. A security camera captured the incident on video.
While detectives interviewed the victim, Danville Police received a report of robbery suspects fleeing toward Moore Street. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed several Black men getting out of a car on Moore Street. Stapleton was apprehended during this police operation.
The State’s Attorney’s Office said Moore was identified as one of the perpetrators based on his clothes; what he was wearing when he was arrested matched the clothes of the suspect who was recorded on camera taking the robbery victim’s shoes from his feet. The shoes and the victim’s cell phone were subsequently found inside the vehicle Stapleton exited on Moore Street.
“I commend the Danville Police Department for quickly identifying and apprehending these violent offenders. We are grateful to the victim for coming forward,” State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said in a news release. “Armed robbery is a dangerous crime that threatens the safety of our entire community. My office remains committed to working with the police to pursue justice and protect victims of violent crime.”
Stapleton was given credit for 592 days he’s already served in custody, and his sentence will be served at 50%. Once out of prison, he will spend one year on parole.
Two other people have been charged in connection to the robbery. Alvin Daniels, charged with the same five felony counts as Stapleton, pleaded guilty in February to one of them and was sentenced to five years in prison. Another person, who is a juvenile, has been charged, but the State’s Attorney’s Office did not go into further detail.
The investigation into the robbery is still ongoing, and people with relevant information are asked to contact law enforcement.
