Waukegan man gets 38 years in 2014 murder
A Waukegan man was sentenced to 38 years in prison Tuesday for killing a man in an argument over money and a family threat, authorities said.
Miquel Leyva, 25, could have been sentenced to 30 to 45 years in prison by Judge Daniel Shanes after he pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder for gunning down Adrian Villarreal at Hickory and Center streets in Waukegan in 2014, said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office.
The prison sentencing range was agreed on as part of the plea deal in May. Had the case gone to trial and Leyva been found guilty, he could have been sentenced to 45 to 75 years in prison.
Leyva was also ordered to be on three years probation after his release from prison, Vargas said. He received 480 days credit for time already served in Lake County jail.
Leyva, of the 1700 block of Golf Road, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for shooting the 53-year-old Villarreal in the head after the two had an argument March 15, 2014, authorities said.
Leyva told authorities Villarreal threatened to harm Leyva's son after a previous confrontation over money owed.
Villarreal was found dead in his vehicle with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and Leyva was arrested 10 days later.
The second murder count was dropped as part of the plea deal, prosecutors said.
Leyva cooperated with police during the investigation, authorities said. He had no prior felony charges on his record, and the gun used in the killing was turned over to police, authorities said.
Defense attorney Greg Nikitas did not comment after the hearing Tuesday.