Woman sentenced for robbery, kidnapping of infant

JONESBORO, Ill. -- An Anna, Ill., woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping.

According to a news release issued Thursday by Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds, Karen S. Nichols, 43, also known as Karen S. Casper, was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the June 2013 robbery of a Johnston City, Ill., woman and the kidnapping of the woman's newborn child. Nichols was sentenced on a charge of armed robbery, a Class X felony, and a concurrent term of seven years on the charge of kidnapping, a Class 1 felony, the release said.

The release said Nichols was arrested at her residence by Union County Sheriff's deputies shortly after the Johnston City woman reported the kidnapping of her newborn from rural Union County the evening of June 28.

Pertinent address: 309 W. Market St., Jonesboro, IL