A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to 48 years in prison for raping and robbing a woman while visiting Lincoln Park in June 2023. Reggie Brown was identified thanks to public tips after Chicago police published surveillance images of the assailant to the media.
In a bench trial earlier this year, Cook County Judge Carol Howard convicted Brown of three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, one act of robbery, and one count of aggravated battery by strangulation. Howard recently handed down his sentence, which included three consecutive 15-year terms for sexual assault, a consecutive three-year term for robbery, and a concurrent three-year term for abuse, for a total of 48 years.
The attack happened in the early morning hours after the 28-year-old victim, who was living with a friend in the 1900 block of North Sheffield Avenue, returned home from a night out with friends. She later told police that she stepped out of an Uber and noticed a man standing on the pavement. As she began to unlock the building’s door, the man approached her from behind, wrapped his arms around her neck until she fainted, and whispered for her to remain silent, according to prosecutors.
He pulled her into the stairwell and sexually attacked her before going through her purse and taking cash. When the woman pleaded with him not to take her ID and credit cards, he laughed, flung them at her, and fled, prosecutors said.
The victim walked immediately to her friend’s place and informed her what had happened; the friend then called the police.
Detectives retrieved Ring and other security footage from the area and published two clear photographs of the suspect in July 2023. The photographs prompted numerous tips identifying the individual as Brown. Prosecutors claimed that his ex-girlfriend and an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services staffer recognized him. Chicago police set up surveillance at Brown’s residence and detained him shortly after.
Court records show Brown filed his appeal last week.
He must serve at least 85 percent of his 48-year sentence. With excellent behavior, he will be eligible for parole in April 2063.
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