Hearing next week for Waukegan man looking to withdraw plea deal in Gurnee fatal stabbing
A hearing is set to decide whether a Waukegan man who pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges he stabbed and killed a man while in a moving car in Gurnee in August 2011 should be allowed to withdraw his plea.
The two sides are due back in court Oct. 29, to decide the future of Zervont Thomas, 21, who was sentenced by Lake County Judge Mark Levitt to 25 years in prison for killing Stefan A. Metel, 33, of Waukegan, and wounding Arturo Antomez, then 17, of Round Lake Beach.
One month after Levitt approved the plea deal, Thomas filed a motion to withdraw it. Attorneys have not said why Thomas changed his mind and is seeking to reverse the deal.
Thomas was deemed mentally ill during a court-ordered mental health evaluation before the plea deal was accepted in June. Under that ruling, Thomas is eligible for mental health screenings, psychiatric care, and possible hospitalization within the Illinois Department of Human Services while serving out his prison sentence.
Thomas was held in the Lake County jail on $5 million bail since his arrest, but was transferred to a state prison after Levitt accepted the plea deal.
Authorities said Metel was driving Thomas to Round Lake when Thomas suddenly feared he was going to be attacked. Thomas, who was sitting in the back seat, pulled out a knife and stabbed at the two men sitting in the front seat, authorities said.
Metel was stabbed five times in the face and neck, authorities said. Antomez was stabbed near the left eye and the hand.
Antomez jumped from the car while it was still moving to escape Thomas, while Metel was able to stop the car and stagger into a Grand Avenue car dealership, authorities said. He later died at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville
Thomas was detained in the building by mechanics until police arrived.