Imprisoned Zion man tries to withdraw plea deal for 2012 standoff in Gurnee
A Zion man who pleaded guilty this year to home invasion for attacking a Gurnee family is trying to withdraw his plea agreement, claiming he was told by his defense attorney he would receive a far shorter prison sentence than was issued.
Kendrick Augillard, 36, of the 4200 block of Barberry Lane, pleaded guilty to single counts of home invasion and animal cruelty in January, and was sentenced in May to 40 years in prison - eight years shy of the maximum sentence - by Lake County Judge Mark Levitt.
Augillard told Levitt during a heated exchange in court Monday that his attorney advised him he would receive closer to the minimum sentence of 24 years if he pleaded guilty.
"I'm saying that what was told to me by my (attorney) was totally different than what happened," Augillard told Levitt after the judge pressed him to explain why he wanted to withdraw his plea.
Augillard also filed motions to drop Donald Morrison as his attorney and filed a second motion appealing the 40-year prison sentence.
Levitt appointed a public defender to assist Augillard, but said the other matters would be discussed July 16.
Morrison and Assistant State's Attorney Jim Newman did not discuss the case after the hearing.
Augillard is serving the 40-year sentence for smashing through the glass door of a home in the 4400 block of Raven Court just before 7 a.m. and chasing two people into an upstairs bathroom.
Authorities said Augillard went to the home to confront his ex-girlfriend, who had recently broke off a relationship with him. She was not home at the time of the attack.
Once upstairs, Augillard fired a handgun through the bathroom door at the two people who had locked themselves inside, authorities said. He also shot and wounded a dog, authorities said.
The violence ended when the victims confronted him and asked to leave, authorities said. He turned himself into police after an hourlong standoff, authorities said.
If Levitt allows the plea deal to be withdrawn, Augillard would be recharged with the same crimes he had before he accepted the deal. The whole process would start over with Augillard's new attorney.
Under the current sentencing guidelines, Augillard would have been eligible for parole in 20 years.