Shermain Miles – a woman who has been arrested 396 times and used 83 aliases throughout her life – apologized inside a Cook County courtroom yesterday and accepted a plea deal that will send her to a mental health and substance abuse rehab program.
The 51-year old has been locked up since December for crimes she committed while on parole for an armed robbery conviction and listened quietly while a judge told her:
“All of us are reaching out to you and offering you, maybe for the first time in your life, a hand, Okay? But you’ve got to reach out and grab all of our hands as well.”
Monday’s sentencing of professional assistance for Miles stemmed from her latest arrests: one for an alleged assault and two for trespassing and drinking in public.
Miles has agreed to mental health evaluation and follow-up treatment, along with a program for alcohol abuse.
Overall, she has been booked 92 times for theft; 65 times for disorderly conduct; 59 times for prostitution-related crimes; and five times for robbery or attempted robbery.