Zion teen sentenced to 23 years for killing infant son
A Zion teen was sentenced to 23 years in prison for killing his 5-month-old son when the child wouldn't stop crying.
Victor Salinas-Corona, 18, must serve 100 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Matt DeMartini said Monday.
Salinas-Corona was facing 20 to 30 years in prison after agreeing to a negotiated plea deal with prosecutors in July. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped nine varying counts of murder and capped the maximum prison sentence at 30 years.
Authorities said Salinas-Corona was watching his son, Ayden, on Feb. 26, 2013, when he became angry because the baby wouldn't stop crying.
Salinas-Corona wrapped the child tightly in a blanket, then struck his head on the side of a metal crib, authorities said.
The blow caused Ayden to suffer a large skull fracture, authorities said. The child died at Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan the next morning.
Ayden's mother, Aurora Escamilla, 20, of Beach Park, pleaded guilty in August to charges of child endangerment for entrusting Salinas-Corona with the infant.
Authorities did not push for probation or prison for Escamilla because she cooperated with authorities and prosecutors. She was ordered to pay $1,326 in court fines.