A 38-year-old Chicago man who was released from Cook County Jail amid concerns about COVID-19 in March robbed a 10-year-old boy outside Union Station on Thursday afternoon, according to prosecutors and county records.
The boy was sitting in his mom’s car with his four juvenile siblings just after 3 p.m. while his mother and a witness were outside the vehicle nearby, according to prosecutors.
That’s when Mario Williams allegedly walked up to the front passenger window and ordered the boy to hand over all of his money. When the boy didn’t act quickly enough, Williams reached into the car, grabbed $9 from the boy’s lap, and fled, prosecutors said.
The boy’s mom and the witness saw what happened and began chasing Williams. An Amtrak police officer intervened and held Williams for Chicago police. He was carrying the boy’s $9, according to prosecutors.
Last October, prosecutors charged Williams with a South Loop burglary, and a judge ordered him held in lieu of $5,000 bail. But, as Illinois began going on COVID-19 lockdown in March, authorities released Williams on a recognizance bond to help clear out the county jail, according to records obtained by CWBChicago.
Williams was arrested for trespassing in River North on June 23. He was again released on a recognizance bond.
Now, prosecutors have charged Williams with felony vehicular invasion in connection with his alleged robbery of the 10-year-old.
Judge Mary Marubio ordered him held without bail for violating the terms of bond on the previous burglary case. Separately, she said he will need to pay a $3,000 deposit bond to get out on the vehicular invasion. Williams will be required to go on electronic monitoring if he posts bond, Marubio said.
