Former Bogan Football Player Accused in Chicago Ridge Robberies

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL -- A Chicago Ridge man was arrested after he was identified in two robberies in which he is grabbed people’s cell phones by force. prosecutors said Thursday in court.

Justin O’Neal, 20, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on two charges for robbery. Both alleged robberies occurred Sept. 17 and Oct. 21.

In the earlier robbery, the prosecutor said that O’Neal grabbed a 14-year-old girl’s iPhone 6S valued at $400 in the 10000 block of South Virginia Avenue in Chicago Ridge.

On Oct. 21, O’Neal allegedly used force to grab a Samsung Galaxy phone from its owner in the 10400 block of South Natoma Avenue. The prosecutor said O’Neal has a business selling cell phones.

O’Neal’s attorney told the judge that O’Neal is a 2014 graduate of Bogan High School in Chicago, where he was a member of the football team. He moved with his parents to Chicago Ridge two years ago.

“My client also suffers from ringworm,” O’Neal’s attorney said.

“Does that compel him to steal phones?” Judge Felice asked.

The judge released O’Neal on a $10,000 I-bond, with pre-trial monitoring.