Chicago — A Chicago man who allegedly robbed a Red Line passenger of their phone so he could watch porn, just two days after being arrested for pleasuring himself while watching schoolchildren arrive for class, has been sentenced to six years.
Nick George, 51, pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted armed robbery, and burglary before Judge James Obbish, according to court records. Obbish sentenced him to six years on each count, to be served concurrently. George also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor public indecency, which was reduced from felony public indecency on school grounds. For that, Obbish gave him a 364-day sentence, with time considered served.
During George’s initial bail hearing in October 2021, prosecutor Patrick Ferrell said George rode a bike into an alley on the 200 block of West Scott and watched students arrive at Franklin Fine Arts Academy about 300 yards away. Video showed George pulling down his pants to fully expose his private areas, and he appeared to masturbate for “several seconds” before pulling his pants up, Ferrell said.
The next day, George allegedly pulled out a box cutter and swung it at a security guard who was escorting him out of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 160 East Pearson, because he was eating and drinking merchandise in the gift shop. The guard stepped out of the way and was not injured.
Later, George allegedly snatched a man’s phone on the Clark-Division Red Line platform, causing the victim to stumble and fall. When police arrested George a short time later, he admitted to taking the phone to watch porn, according to Ferrell.
George, who was on probation for possessing a stolen motor vehicle in Wisconsin at the time, has two previous convictions for indecent exposure in Pennsylvania.
His six-year sentence will be reduced by 50% for good behavior, and he received credits for 721 days that will be applied toward prison time. His parole date is set for February 21, 2024.
