A 39-year-old man charged in connection with several robberies in Chicago involving a knife could be sent to prison for the rest of his life if convicted.

Willie A. Doles, of the 6900 block of South Oakley Avenue in Chicago, was charged with five felony counts of armed robbery and one felony count of aggravated battery involving the use of a deadly weapon.

Authorities said Doles is responsible for the robberies of several small businesses across the city and in the western suburbs, all of which involved the use of a knife.

He was ordered held without bail during a Thursday afternoon court appearance.

Doles' arrest was made just after 1 p.m. Wednesday "as a result of a combined effort" between the Chicago Police Department and the FBI. Police did not specify which locations Doles is accused of robbing.

The most recent robbery was Monday at The Blues Jean Bar, at 2210 N. Halsted St. That followed other attacks at several other boutiques and restaurants in recent weeks. In each, police said a man entered under the pretense of buying something and then displayed a knife once at the register.

In the first incident at a Bucktown boutique, a clerk was slashed in the hand during a struggle with the thief, police said.

According to officials, Doles was on parole for a related crime and a warrant was issued for parole violations. A conviction in the most recent case would be his third Class X felony.