Waukegan woman sentenced to probation for assisting in kidnapping North Chicago woman
A Waukegan woman was sentenced to 24 months of probation and electronic home monitoring in Lake County court Tuesday for helping a family member in the beating and sexual assault of a North Chicago woman in January 2013.
Natilie Myers, 33, said during her sentencing hearing in front of Judge George Bridges that she was "deeply apologetic" for the attack, adding she "never condoned" the brutal torture of the victim during a 24-hour period in a North Chicago apartment.
"I had no intention at all for what happened to the victim," Myers said. "And I do deeply apologize for it."
Bridges also sentenced Myers to six months of electronic home monitoring, 90 days in the Lake County jail, and 12 months of periodic imprisonment for her role in the attack on the ex-girlfriend of her cousin, Jerimiah Cochran, 34, of Waukegan.
However, the jail time was erased due to time Myers already served in Lake County jail after her arrest, and the 12 months in periodic imprisonment will be stayed depending on how she performs during her time on probation, Assistant State's Attorney Matt DeMartini said.
Myers was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and to attend substance abuse treatment. She is not allowed to have any contact with the victim.
Myers pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping in June 2013 for helping Cochran with the abduction of his former girlfriend after the victim had taken Cochran's two children to see his mother in Waukegan in January 2013.
The victim was hit on the head and dragged into a car. She was driven by Myers to a North Chicago apartment that Cochran frequently visited, DeMartini said.
There, the victim was kicked and punched in the head and raped. Cochran also tried to pull out her teeth using a pair of pliers, DeMartini said.
She escaped by crawling out of a bedroom window and running to a nearby home, DeMartini said.
Myers was not present for most of the beatings by Cochran. She was offered a plea deal after she agreed to testify against her cousin at his trial, DeMartini said.
Cochran was convicted of criminal sexual abuse and kidnapping in May, and he was sentenced to 40 years in prison by Bridges on July 21, DeMartini said.
Bridges said he believed Myers did not plan the kidnapping and the beating.
"If I thought for a second that you were involved in the planning, you would be on your way to the department of corrections," he said.