Former La Salle County deputy pleads guilty to Will County charge

JOLIET – A former La Salle County deputy accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl nearly 2 years ago then leading officers on a 4-day, multicounty manhunt pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in Will County.

Using a handgun, Lowell “Max” Ambler, 48, carjacked a vehicle in Plainfield. It was found in woods south of his hometown of Earlville, where he was arrested Oct. 6, 2017, after a standoff.

As a result, Ambler also was indicted that Oct. 25 in Will County on four felonies: armed robbery, which carries 6 to 30 years, aggravated robbery and robbery of a victim who is older than 60 or disabled, each of which carries 4 to 15 years, and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, which carries 3 to 7 years.

Ambler pleaded guilty Thursday and will be sentenced Aug. 6 on the aggravated robbery charge. The three other charges were dismissed as part of his plea agreement.

Ambler, who is in Lee County Jail on $1 million bond, also was indicted on Oct. 20, 2017, in Lee County on two counts of home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping, criminal trespass to a residence and unlawful restraint.

The first three counts carry 6 to 30 years in prison; kidnapping carries 2 to 7 years, and the rest 1 to 3 years.

His final pretrial hearing is Thursday.