Man sentenced to prison for armed robbery of Joliet AT&T store

A Hazel Crest man was sentenced to prison for his role in the 2019 armed robbery of an AT&T store in Joliet.

On Wednesday, Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Sean Watson, 23, to serve a 13-year prison sentence, court records show.

Watson pleaded guilty to the Feb. 16, 2019, armed robbery of the AT&T store at 1728 West Jefferson St. Several other charges were dropped pursuant to Watson’s guilty plea, court records show.

Watson’s co-defendant, Allen Johnson, 21, of Chicago, pleaded guilty July 12 to the armed robbery, court records show. Prosecutors dropped several other charges against Johnson as part of the plea.

Bertani-Tomczak 12 years.

Watson and Johnson stole cellphones from the Joliet AT&T store and were arrested at a residence in Chicago Heights, according to Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow’s news release. A helicopter from another agency assisted in the pursuit of the two men.

Watson was on parole at the time of the robbery for possessing a stolen vehicle in Cook County, Glasgow said.

“We are seeing armed robberies, carjackings, and other crimes throughout the region committed by individuals who do not live in Will County,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow said that his office will continue to send a “clear message” to those who enter Will County for the purpose of committing crimes.

“(Here) in Will County, we put criminals who endanger the safety of our residents and business community behind bars,” Glasgow said.