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Robber with doll gets 10 years in prison

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By Dustin Lemmon | Tuesday, July 17, 2007 |

TODAY: (Updated 12:34 p.m.) A Rock Island man with a history of mental health problems was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for robbing a Moline Kwik Shop of $22 while armed with a knife and a Winnie the Pooh doll.

Robert Castleman, 48, was sentenced on felony counts of aggravated robbery and residential burglary in Rock Island County Circuit Court for two separate incidents that occurred in spring 2006. According to court records, he confessed to police on both crimes.

The Kwik Shop robbery occurred in the early morning of April 1, 2006, at 1305 15th St., Moline. Castleman allegedly threatened at least twice to kill the clerk and claimed he had a knife, court records state.

According to testimony at Castleman’s sentencing hearing, he was wearing a hood and a handkerchief over his face, while carrying a Winnie the Pooh doll. The purpose of the doll was never explained.

The residential burglary charge stemmed from a May 21, 2006, incident at a East Moline home where he allegedly stole a cell phone, DVD player, guitar and laptop computer, court records state. The victim said Castleman, who he suspected of committing the crime, was a former roommate he kicked out two months earlier.

According to court documents, Castleman went to the East Moline Police Department May 26 for help on another unspecified matter and confessed to the two crimes.

In 1990, Castleman was found not guilty on a felony armed robbery count in Rock Island County Circuit Court by reason of insanity.

Castleman received a conditional release from a mental health facility in 1996 but continued in-patient treatment. In January 1998, he was allowed to live in Rock Island County where he could continue his treatment.

In March 1998, he was charged in the same court with attempted robbery for allegedly plotting with another man to rob banks in East Moline, Moline and Hampton, Ill. Castleman later pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

Castleman also has several misdemeanor convictions in Rock Island County for battery.

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.