A Lincoln Square man has pleaded guilty to committing an armed robbery in Uptown while he was supposed to be on 24/7 electronic monitoring for another armed robbery.
In November 2017, Ayuub Ararsa was accused of committing an armed robbery in the West Ridge neighborhood. Prosecutors charged him with two Class X felony charges of armed robbery, two felony counts of burglary, two felony counts of unlawful restraint, and two felony counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. A judge initially ordered him held without bail.
Just two months later, though, Judge Mary Brosnahan allowed him to go home on electronic monitoring by posting a $10,000 deposit.
Then, in August 2018, Ararsa was still on electronic monitoring when he and Sean Rosario allegedly robbed a 17-year-old at gunpoint of $130 cash and a pair of Beats headphones in Uptown.
“Give me everything you got,” Ararsa allegedly told the boy while taking the headphones from around the victim’s neck.
Rosario, with a handgun at his side, warned, “Don’t try to follow us. We’ll shoot you,” police said.
Rosario was 18 and Ararsa was 19 at the time of the second robbery.
Police responded to the boy’s 911 call and immediately located Ararsa and Rosario in Ararsa’s backyard. Ararsa was arrested on the spot, his ankle monitor still attached to his right leg. Rosario ran from the yard but was arrested nearby. Police said they found the victim’s headphones in an alley close to Rosario and $250 in Rosario’s sock.
Prosecutors charged Ararsa and Rosario with one count of Class X felony armed robbery with a firearm each.
Ararsa has now pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in both crimes. Judge Brosnahan sentenced him to four years for the first hold-up and six years for the one he committed while on electronic monitoring.
The sentences will be served consecutively and reduced by 50% for good behavior. Plus, he’ll receive 1,041 days credit for time spent in jail and on electronic monitoring before entering his plea.
With all discounts applied, Ararsa is scheduled to walk out of prison on November 12.
Rosario also pleaded guilty to his role in the second robbery. Brosnahan sentenced him to six years, too. He’ll also receive a 50% sentence reduction plus 933 days credit for time spent in jail. Rosario remains in Cook County custody, so the state has not yet estimated his parole date.
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