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Man no longer suspect in Lake Geneva robbery, still ends up with charges

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Michael J. Chamberlain

ELKHORN — A Lyons Township man sought in connection with a Lake Geneva robbery has been charged with a felony for trying to escape prosecution by lying to a police officer.

Michael J. Chamberlain, 29, appeared in court Monday on charges of felony identify theft, carrying a concealed weapon and obstructing an officer. The latter two are misdemeanors.

Police last week were seeking Chamberlain as a person of interest in a robbery at McCullough’s Drug Store, 269 Broad St., Lake Geneva. Police said a man entered the store displaying a black semi-automatic pistol. He demanded OxyContin from the pharmacist, and the pharmacist handed over an unknown amount of the painkiller.

During searches for the suspect, Chamberlain was approached by an officer and gave the officer a fake name, according to the criminal complaint. He later turned himself in to the Lake Geneva Police Department for a probation violation, according to the complaint.

Lake Geneva police said they are still looking for a suspect in the pharmacy robbery.

Chamberlain admitted to taking a loaded handgun from his grandfather’s residence in Lake Geneva, according to the complaint. He said he was carrying the gun when he spoke to a police officer, who patted Chamberlain down but found nothing suspicious.

Chamberlain told police the reason he misidentified himself was because he was wanted on a probation violation and didn’t want to get arrested, according to the complaint.

The man whose name Chamberlain used was known to Chamberlain and a detective at the Lake Geneva Police Department, according to the complaint. The detective said the three grew up in the same community.

Chamberlain is expected in court Jan. 20 for a preliminary hearing. If convicted, he faces seven years and six months in prison and $30,000 in fines.