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A West Frankfort woman accused of robbing several stores throughout southern Illinois last year, including Raubach Video and the BP Station in West Frankfort, has entered a negotiated guilty plea in Willliamson County Court.
Becky Jo Stodghill, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and will be sentenced in October.
She could be sentenced to up to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
In addition to charges in both Franklin and Williamson Counties, Stodghill had been charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of attempted armed robbery in Williamson County.
She was accused of robbing the Super 8 Motel and the Hampton Inn in Marion on Nov. 23, 2010, and attempting to rob the Airport Inn near the Williamson County Airport and the Fairfield Inn in Marion.
She was reportedly committing the robberies to fund a drug habit.
Armed robbery is a Class X felony punishable by between and 30 years in prison.
She was arrested Nov. 30, 2010 during a traffic stop by a Carterville Police Officer. She allegedly wore a retro-style hockey mask made famous by the Friday the 13th slasher movies during the robberies, which, along with a pellet gun, were discovered inside her vehicle when the arrest took place.
The arrest came following a West Frankfort Police Department investigation that compiled video surveillance footage to capture images of Stodghill's vehicle used during the robberies.
At the time of her arrest, West Frankfort Chief of Police Jeff Tharp said officers also worked with vehicle experts from Weeks’ Chevrolet Pontiac GMC Buick.
Through the use of lighting systems, officers determined that Stodghill's vehicle was an off-white 2000-2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
Area law enforcement agencies were made aware of the vehicle description, which led to Stodghill's arrest last November.
Tharp also indicated that, through the use of surveillance, officers determined that Stodghill had a working knowledge of firearms. He said the way the alleged robber manipulated the firearm on the footage led those involved with the investigation to believe that he or she had some degree of formal training in its use.
"Stodghill would 'mask' the trigger when holding the firearm," said Tharp. "Masking is a firearm safety technique primarily utilized by law enforcement and military personnel in which the finger is not placed directly inside the trigger guard until the person is ready to fire."
By examining this firearm technique, officers were able to learn that Stodghill was a former employee of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Tharp added that Stodghill also appeared to have some forensic knowledge that aided her in completely concealing her identifying characteristics during the robberies. The chief said she went as far as taping over the brand name on the sole of her boots to disallow any viable footprints at the scene of the crimes.
A West Frankfort woman accused of robbing several stores throughout southern Illinois last year, including Raubach Video and the BP Station in West Frankfort, has entered a negotiated guilty plea in Willliamson County Court.
Becky Jo Stodghill, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and will be sentenced in October.
She could be sentenced to up to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
In addition to charges in both Franklin and Williamson Counties, Stodghill had been charged with two counts of armed robbery and two counts of attempted armed robbery in Williamson County.
She was accused of robbing the Super 8 Motel and the Hampton Inn in Marion on Nov. 23, 2010, and attempting to rob the Airport Inn near the Williamson County Airport and the Fairfield Inn in Marion.
She was reportedly committing the robberies to fund a drug habit.
Armed robbery is a Class X felony punishable by between and 30 years in prison.
She was arrested Nov. 30, 2010 during a traffic stop by a Carterville Police Officer. She allegedly wore a retro-style hockey mask made famous by the Friday the 13th slasher movies during the robberies, which, along with a pellet gun, were discovered inside her vehicle when the arrest took place.
The arrest came following a West Frankfort Police Department investigation that compiled video surveillance footage to capture images of Stodghill's vehicle used during the robberies.
At the time of her arrest, West Frankfort Chief of Police Jeff Tharp said officers also worked with vehicle experts from Weeks’ Chevrolet Pontiac GMC Buick.
Through the use of lighting systems, officers determined that Stodghill's vehicle was an off-white 2000-2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
Area law enforcement agencies were made aware of the vehicle description, which led to Stodghill's arrest last November.
Tharp also indicated that, through the use of surveillance, officers determined that Stodghill had a working knowledge of firearms. He said the way the alleged robber manipulated the firearm on the footage led those involved with the investigation to believe that he or she had some degree of formal training in its use.
"Stodghill would 'mask' the trigger when holding the firearm," said Tharp. "Masking is a firearm safety technique primarily utilized by law enforcement and military personnel in which the finger is not placed directly inside the trigger guard until the person is ready to fire."
By examining this firearm technique, officers were able to learn that Stodghill was a former employee of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Tharp added that Stodghill also appeared to have some forensic knowledge that aided her in completely concealing her identifying characteristics during the robberies. The chief said she went as far as taping over the brand name on the sole of her boots to disallow any viable footprints at the scene of the crimes.
