Fox Lake teen admits role in deadly botched robbery
A Fox Lake teen pleaded guilty Wednesday to allegations she played a part in the April death of a married father killed during a botched robbery in Round Lake Beach.
Courtney Sherman, 18, faces up to five years in prison after admitting to a charge of reckless homicide in the death of 43-year-old Trinidad Bueno-Sanchez of North Chicago. Her sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 30.
Sherman also will be eligible for probation, defense attorney James Schwarzbach said.
"We will be seeking a sentence of intensive probation when her sentencing hearing takes place," Schwarzbach added.
Additional charges of robbery and reckless homicide were dropped in exchange for the plea deal reached Wednesday.
Sherman was accused of being the mastermind behind an April 24 robbery behind a department store on the 700 block of East Rollins Road that left Bueno-Sanchez fatally wounded, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Eric Kalata said.
Using the name "Jessie," Sherman used a phone app to arrange a deal to buy a cellphone from Bueno-Sanchez for $450, Kalata said. The two agreed to meet in the store parking lot. Sherman arrived with four juveniles and Bueno-Sanchez went with his wife and child.
Authorities said Bueno-Sanchez gave Sherman the phone in exchange for a sealed envelope that had $450 written on it. But when Bueno-Sanchez checked inside the envelope, he found only three $1 bills and Walmart receipts.
When Bueno-Sanchez discovered he was duped, he grabbed a hold of the teens' car to question them, Kalata said.
Sherman told the juvenile driver to "go" and the car took off, dragging Bueno-Sanchez before he fell and struck his head on the pavement, Kalata said.
Bueno-Sanchez was pronounced dead from head trauma later that night at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
The juvenile driver and front seat passenger also were charged with reckless homicide and robbery, Kalata said. Both have since taken plea deals, though Kalata did not disclose the terms or sentences.
Sherman remains held in the Lake County jail on $250,000 bail pending her sentencing.