St. Charles man gets 10 years for stealing water pipes, fighting with police officers

A west suburban man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the armed robbery of a tobacco shop in which two water pipes worth $2,000 each were stolen, and for fighting with police who tried to arrest him.

Jacob M. Fahey, 21 pleaded guilty Wednesday to armed robbery, a Class X felony, and aggravated battery to a police officer, according to a statement from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

Associate Judge Clint Hull accepted the plea, and sentenced Fahey, of the 500 block of 12^th Avenue in St. Charles, to 10 years for the robbery and three years for the battery, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

About 6:20 p.m. Jan. 4, Fahey, armed with a BB pistol; and Rayshawn Vonperbandt, armed with a kitchen steak knife, entered the tobacco store in the 1500 block of East Main Street in St. Charles, prosecutors said.

“Fahey pointed the gun at the shop owner, and Vonperbandt put the knife to the victim’s back,” prosecutors said. They forced him to open a display case and took two water pipes, worth about $2,000 each, prosecutors said.

Images of the pair were caught on surveillance video as they ran out of the store, and on Jan. 20, St. Charles police went to Fahey’s home to question him. But “Fahey refused to be handcuffed, and kicked the officers while trying to escape,” prosecutors said. “When taken to the ground during the scuffle, Fahey grabbed one of the officers by the throat.”

After subduing Fahey, officer found the BB pistol and clothing that matched what the suspect was wearing during the robbery, prosecutors said.

By law, Fahey is eligible for day-for-day sentencing and received credit for 195 days spent in the Kane County jail.

Vonperbandt, 21, of the 200 block of North 15^th Street in St. Charles, is charged with armed robbery, a Class X felony. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 12.