Man gets 23 years for robbing Illinois lottery winner

Apr 3, 2011, 7:39 am (33 comments)

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ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. — A Rolling Meadows man shot four times when two masked intruders invaded his residence in search of lottery winnings says he still worries about being home alone at night.

On Friday a Cook County judge sentenced one of his assailants to 23 years in prison.

Robert English, formerly of Berwyn, received the sentence Friday in exchange for his guilty plea to attempted first-degree murder, home invasion and aggravated battery with a firearm. All are class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison. English, 35, must complete at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. He received credit for 422 days he has spent in custody since his arrest.

English's co-defendant, 49-year-old Carmine Palella of Palatine, is scheduled to stand trial on the same charges beginning Monday in Rolling Meadows.

It all began about 1:12 a.m. on Sept. 6, 2009, when the victim's friend noticed a commotion outside the house and observed two individuals wearing dark clothes and masks attempting to enter the back door, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Andre.

The individuals broke the window and door frame and entered the house, police said. During a struggle, the 42-year-old homeowner was shot four times, including two shots to the chest. He spent six days in the hospital, Andre said.

Andre said police later recorded Palella admitting he drove English and another person to the victim's house, pointed out the house and waited in the car for their return. Authorities say Palella was not aware he was being recorded at the time.

Rolling Meadows detective Phil Barrile interviewed English, who admitted he went to the house because Palella told him the victim, an Illinois State Lottery winner, had money there, Andre said. English also said he brought along a .25 caliber weapon and admitted firing it, Andre said.

English declined to speak at his sentencing. However, the homeowner and his friend, who prosecutors also named as a victim, told the court they supported the sentence.

"I believe it's a fair disposition," said Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Fecarotta. "I'm impressed that you're stepping up to the plate and admitting your crimes... I don't know that I'm impressed with your criminal history."

English's extensive criminal background includes a 2006 conviction for attempted burglary, for which he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. He was sentenced to three years in a prison for a 2004 theft and six years for a 2000 armed robbery, Andre said. Prosecutors indicated English was convicted of bribery in 1998, for which he received a three-year sentence and boot camp, and defacing a firearm in 1997, resulting in a four-year sentence and boot camp. He also has several cases pending elsewhere in Cook County, Andre said.

The homeowner has recovered from his physical injuries, but he says his ability to trust other people remains impaired — especially since he once counted one of Palella's relatives among his best friends and has known the family for decades.

"I'm satisfied the plea deal was done," the other victim said of English. "But it never should have happened. He should have been off the streets 10 years ago."

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AP

Comments

Aeolus

This is why you never tell anyone when you have won something big, and also hope your state lets you claim w/o a <snip> news conference or without your name published.

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

gocart1's avatargocart1

This is the very thing i worry about  should i win  a jackpot .In New York State , the Lottery wants to take pictures and have a news confernce..I dont want my 15 minutes of fame just my peace and quiet..I'm not sure if the blind trust thing works in New York State..Can anyone of my friends on LP  help me out ..peace and love to you all...US FlagPartyParty

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

Pretty face little punk.love the tats.where ever did you find your make-up artist? I hope you get them scraped off by your room-mate prison buddy.

Grovel's avatarGrovel

This is why I am going to move to another state if I win. Somewhere were nobody knows me.

gocart1's avatargocart1

Quote: Originally posted by Grovel on Apr 3, 2011

This is why I am going to move to another state if I win. Somewhere were nobody knows me.

US FlagI Agree!

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

i thought you where allowed to shoot home invaders in USA. id move to a state where it is allowed.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by Grovel on Apr 3, 2011

This is why I am going to move to another state if I win. Somewhere were nobody knows me.

I Agree!

mightwin's avatarmightwin

Yep if I win, I would move to a gated community with security in another state and wouldn't tell anyone!

Aeolus

Quote: Originally posted by savagegoose on Apr 3, 2011

i thought you where allowed to shoot home invaders in USA. id move to a state where it is allowed.

Can't really own a gun in NY, though you csan be licensed for a shotgun.  Southerns are more gun loving...

sully16's avatarsully16

Yikes, creepy looking guys. throw the book at em!

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

they should've been given the chance to meet 

  chair

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Unless you live in the roughest of the roughest neighbourhoods, I dont necessarily think the lottery commision putting your pic on their website makes you a robbery target.

Think about it, how many people are known millionares in every city? its the same.

Infact the biggest problem with being outed by the lottery commision is dealing with the constant begging from friends and neighbors and family.

BuyLow's avatarBuyLow

In Florida if you are in fear of your life and someone enters your home by force you can blow them away.  I would have no reservations greeting someone with a shotgun blast if they enter my home by force, none.  Evil Smile

myeyes2020's avatarmyeyes2020

i would make like i'm the spokeman for winner.

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