A Harvey, Illinois, man was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison Thursday after a plea deal for breaking into the permanently idled U.S. Steel East Chicago Tin in January.
Shamar Fulwiley, 33, pleaded guilty in November to burglary, a level 5 felony. Four men dressed in black broke into the building, charges allege. Only one other man was caught and charged.
Defense lawyer John Cantrell said he was there to “scrap” and “make some money” but didn’t end up stealing anything.
Prosecutor Madeline Clement argued he was found with tools and other men with him were armed. There was a lot of “copper” to steal.
“Just because he didn’t get caught, we can’t ignore what would have happened,” she said.
Judge Salvador Vasquez said it was a mark on his character that he was involved. He called the 2.5-year term a break.
On Jan. 8, East Chicago Police responded to the plant, located at 101 129th Street. Two Whiting police officers were also dispatched.
The foreman sent officers to a sublevel near the southwest corner where they found co-defendant Johnnie Owens. He ran when cops told him to put his arms up.
A cop used a stun gun when he pulled a gun from his hoodie. He dropped the gun and ran north, tearing “prongs” and “wires” off himself. Multiple officers arrested him.
Two cops went back near the northeast stairwell to look for the gun. Fulwiley — in all black with a black mask — was lying in “mud and grease” to hide from the cops. He was arrested and gave officers a fake name — Mark Lee.
They found a gun on him and later found Owens’ weapon elsewhere.
Fulwiley had active warrants in Springfield, Illinois, Calumet City and another for a parole violation.
Owens was convicted of murder in Cook County in 2000, records show.
His burglary case is pending.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
