Chicago Man Sentenced to Twenty Years for Attempting to Carjack a Woman at Gunpoint in Downers Grove
“VIOLENT CRIME THAT TERRORIZES OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE MET WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW,” BERLIN SAID. “NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON WONDERING IF THEY’RE NEXT. JUDGE O’HALLAREN WALSH’S SENTENCE TODAY SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT IN DUPAGE COUNTY, VIOLENT CRIMES HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AND ANYONE WHO WOULD CONSIDER COMMITTING SUCH A CRIME HERE SHOULD THINK TWICE.”
DOWNERS GROVE - DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that a Chicago man has been sentenced to twenty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for attempting to carjack a woman’s car from a Downers Grove gas station in September 2021. Demario Butler, 31 (d.o.b. 4/8/1991) appeared at his sentencing hearing this afternoon in front of Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh, who handed down the sentence. On January 18, 2023, Butler entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Attempt Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking With a Firearm, a Class 1 Felony.
On September 30, 2021, at approximately 1:19 p.m., officers with the Downers Grove Police Department responded to a call of an armed robbery and attempted vehicular hijacking that had just occurred at the BP gas station located at 4314 Main Street. An investigation into the matter found that the victim was at the gas station when two people approached her, Butler on the driver’s side of the vehicle and a second individual, alleged to be twenty-four-year-old Pierre Baugh, also from Chicago, on the passenger side of the vehicle. Butler demanded the victim’s car keys and cell phone while holding a black handgun next to his face with the barrel pointed upward. The victim handed over her cell phone to Butler and then ran toward the gas station mini-mart. Butler then entered the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle but soon exited the vehicle as he was unable to start it. Both Butler and Baugh allegedly then fled the scene. Through their investigation, authorities identified Butler and Baugh as suspects in the crime. On October 22, 2021, Butler was taken into custody from his home.
“Violent crime that terrorizes our communities will be met with the full force of the law,” Berlin said. “No one should have to look over their shoulder in the middle of the afternoon wondering if they’re next. Judge O’Hallaren Walsh’s sentence today sends the message that in DuPage County, violent crimes have serious consequences and anyone who would consider committing such a crime here should think twice. I thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Adam Frahm and Kristin Sullivan for their efforts in securing a significant sentence for Mr. Butler.”
Baugh’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 17, 2023, also in front of Judge O’Hallaren Walsh.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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