Convicted Felon on Electronic Monitoring Attacks Pregnant Woman in Loop CTA Station
A convicted felon, Devon Jones, attacked and robbed a pregnant woman inside a CTA station in the Loop while on electronic monitoring, despite violating stay-at-home orders, according to court records.
This incident sheds light on the failures in electronic monitoring programs operated by the Office of the Chief Judge, with a growing number of incidents showcasing the shortcomings in monitoring individuals like Jones.
Surveillance video shows Jones freely moving through the CTA system on October 4, spending hours riding trains and sleeping on platforms, despite being required to stay at home. Later that day, he attacked a pregnant woman in a pedestrian tunnel at Jackson, connecting the Red Line and Blue Line stations.
Before the attack, Jones had been repeatedly flagged for violating monitoring conditions. Despite warnings about his violations, Jones was released multiple times, even after failing to appear in court on September 8.
CTA surveillance footage captured Jones arriving at the Fullerton station on October 4, hopping turnstiles, and sleeping on a bench before approaching the victim in the tunnel. He allegedly struck her, attempted to take her purse, and fled with her iPad after a struggle.
The victim, who suffered scratches and bruises, identified Jones as her attacker. Police arrested him on December 28 after he was caught breaking into a home in Auburn Gresham. Jones now faces charges of robbery and aggravated battery of a transit passenger.
Despite being taken into custody for violating electronic monitoring, Jones was released again, leading to the December incident. Court records indicate that he had not contacted pretrial services since September 5, a condition of his release.
Following his arrest, Chief Judge Charles Beach II acknowledged the need to review and strengthen the electronic monitoring program. A committee has been established to study communication and enforcement procedures for violations.
These incidents highlight the importance of effective monitoring and enforcement in keeping the community safe and holding individuals accountable for their actions.
