A 37-year-old Aurora man accused of stealing a cell phone from a teenage boy at knifepoint Wednesday afternoon now faces felony charges.
Leonel Martinez, 37, of the 600 block of South River Street, is charged with armed robbery, a Class X felony; armed violence, also a Class X felony; Class 3 felony theft; and unlawful use of a weapon, a Class A misdemeanor, according to Kane County Court records. Martinez is accused of stealing a phone from a 15-year-old boy at about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday outside a convenience store on the 1000 block of North Farnsworth Avenue, according to an email from police spokesman Dan Ferrelli.
Martinez approached the 15-year-old and his 12-year-old friend while the older boy was using the younger boy’s phone, Ferrelli said.
Martinez is accused of snatching the phone, valued at $650, from the teen while holding a knife to his stomach, Ferrelli said.
Both boys broke away and ran, and neither was injured, Ferrelli said.
When police took Martinez into custody without incident minutes later, while he was walking on the 1100 block of Sheffer Avenue, he was in possession of the teen’s phone, Ferrelli said.
In January 2009, Martinez pleaded guilty to theft valued at less than $300 and was ultimately sentenced to 328 days in county jail, records show.
More Top Picks Best Tournament Dartboards For Professionals
Twitter @hannahmleone