Round Lake Beach man sentenced to 12 years for shooting
A Round Lake Beach man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for accidentally shooting a teenage boy.
Jose J. Herrera Jr., 20, of the 200 block of Geneva Terrace, agreed to the prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of attempted aggravated battery with a firearm in Lake County court Friday.
Herrera will spend two years on parole after his release from prison. He received 241 days of credit toward his prison sentence for time he has served in Lake County jail. He also will receive day-for-day credit for the time he serves in prison, meaning he will need to spend about 6 years behind bars before being eligible for parole.
Officers were called to the 400 block of Meadow Green Lane at 9:41 p.m. Feb. 27 for a report of shots fired. Responding officers found a 15-year-old boy had been shot in the leg. He was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released, police said.
Officials said Herrera and other people were involved in argument over a woman. Police said Herrera fired several shots at the ground from a vehicle and struck the teen who was not involved in the dispute.
Herrera was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm after his arrest. That charge was reduced Friday in exchange for the plea deal.
"I find myself hoping you and others learn from these mistakes," Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes told Herrera in court.