Man Gets 120 Years for Abducting Woman From Starbucks Parking Lot at Knifepoint
Timothy J. Dubois Jr., 42, was sentenced Thursday to 120 years in prison after a Madison County, Illinois, jury convicted him of kidnapping a 21-year-old woman from a Starbucks parking lot at knifepoint and sexually assaulting her in November 2022.
Madison County Circuit Judge Tim Berkley handed down the sentence following Dubois' May conviction on 10 charges, including two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. According to the sentencing breakdown reported by The Telegraph, Dubois received 80 years combined for the two aggravated criminal sexual assault charges, 30 years for kidnapping and 10 years for the two abuse counts, meaning he will serve a minimum of 68 years before becoming eligible for release.
What Happened
Prosecutors said the assault occurred on Nov. 11, 2022, Veterans Day, when Dubois approached the victim's vehicle while she was parked outside a Starbucks in Collinsville, Illinois, waiting for her coffee order. Investigators said he entered her car armed with a large knife and forced her to drive roughly eight miles to a residential area in Troy, Illinois, where he sexually assaulted her. He then forced her to drive back to the Collinsville retail complex, placed a coat over her head, instructed her to count to 100 and fled the scene.
Prosecutors said Dubois wore a mask throughout the assault, so the victim never saw his face. He had also turned off her cellphone to prevent her location from being tracked, though investigators said the victim was wearing an Apple Watch, which ultimately helped lead them to the area where the assault occurred. Police later recovered a condom in a gravel lot connected to the crime and released surveillance images along with a sketch of the suspect, which eventually led to Dubois' identification.
According to prosecutors, Dubois told his victim during the assault that he "deserved her" because he was a military veteran.
The Trial and Sentencing
Dubois was convicted following a three-day trial in May, during which jurors heard testimony from the victim and viewed portions of a confession recording. At sentencing, Dubois' defense asked the court for leniency, citing his military service. Prosecutors pushed back directly, noting that Dubois had specifically invoked his veteran status during the assault itself as a justification for his actions.
Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine said the sentence reflected the severity of the crime, while Collinsville Police Chief Brett Boerm told reporters that "a monster had been put away."
Dubois had reportedly told investigators he chose to target the Starbucks parking lot specifically because it was a location where he expected to find women alone.
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