Red Line mugging sends one man to jail for 4 years; co-defendant missing after posting just $200 bail

A Chicago man has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a robbery aboard a Red Line train in the Loop last year. And one of his co-defendants, who was freed on an affordable bail of just $200, has gone AWOL, according to court records.

(Left to right): Nathaniel Goodwin; Alija Olds; and De’Ovenonna Thomas. | CPD

A 39-year-old man told police that two men, a woman, and a female juvenile robbed him on a train at the State-Lake station in April 2019.

The victim said 26-year-old Alija Olds of the Gold Coast pointed a gun to his head and then to his stomach as he took valuables from the victim’s pockets. Two females and 19-year-old Nathaniel Goodwin then battered the man and a 17-year-old boy who was also on the train, prosecutors said.

Video grabs of the alleged robbery in progress. | Anonymous

The robbery victim suffered bruising and swelling of his head, face, and body, police said.

Now, Goodwin has pleaded guilty to aggravated battery of a transit worker. Judge Earl Hoffenberg sentenced him to a four year prison sentence with 185 days credit for time served awaiting trial. Goodwin is scheduled to be released early on April 20, 2022, according to state records.

But 20-year-old De’Ovenonna Thomas, who’s charged with Class X felony armed robbery and battery, has gone missing from electronic monitoring after she posted just $200 to get out of jail, according to court records.

Olds is on bail awaiting trial, but he has continued to show up for court appearances.

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