An Iowa woman accused of taking part in high-speed police chase last year after stealing items from an Oak Brook store has pleaded guilty to burglary.
Zhane Ball
Zhane T. Ball, 29, of Iowa City, Iowa, was sentenced to five years in prison after admitting guilt to the felony charge Thursday. She will have to serve at least 50% of the sentence, and was given credit for 403 days spent in the DuPage County jail since her arrest.
Ball will serve the sentence concurrently with one imposed in Linn County, Iowa, where she was charged with felony eluding ‒ speeding 25+ mph over the speed limit. She pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, retail theft and endangering the health or life of a child stemming from the Oak Brook case were dropped as part of the agreement reached Thursday in DuPage County court.
Authorities alleged that on April 14, 2023, Ball and Xavier Miller, 29, of Chicago left a T.J. Maxx store without paying for $1,701 worth of shoes, socks and handbags. Authorities say they got into an SUV driven by Russell Miller, 25, of Chicago and drove off with Oak Brook police in pursuit.
Officials said the vehicle ran a red light and drove at speeds in excess of 75 mph before the chase ended when it sideswiped a school bus near York High School, then hit a car.
There were five children in the SUV, ages 2 months to 10 years, authorities said.
Russell Miller pleaded guilty in April to aggravated fleeing and eluding and was sentenced to five years in prison. Xavier Miller pleaded guilty in January to burglary and also was sentenced to five years in prison.