Man gets 6 years in prison for beating woman, trashing art displays
A 23-year-old Elgin man was sentenced to six years in prison after admitting to beating his girlfriend and trashing displays at the city's downtown Artspace development.
Prosecutors recommended Darian K. Greco get boot camp, but prison officials have the final say.
Greco, of the 1300 block of Wing Street, recently pleaded guilty to felony residential burglary and aggravated domestic battery, according to Kane County court records.
He was charged with an April 20 burglary at a first-floor apartment at the city's Artspace lofts, 51 S. Spring St. A friend of the victim told authorities the unit was burglarized and the woman went to find Greco, who she believed was responsible.
Police said the apartment was trashed, the woman's safe broken into, and three pieces of art previously on display in the building's hallway were on apartment floor.
The victim found Greco at the nearby Elgin Public House, and began yelling at him before the two went outside, police said. At one point, Greco struck the woman and began choking her until a Public House employee pulled Greco off her.
Greco was caught on security video removing art from the hallway walls at Artspace, police said. He also admitted to taking some of the woman's items.
Judge Linda Abrahamson accepted the guilty plea and other lesser charges were dismissed. Greco must pay $3,626.22 in restitution plus $780 in court fines and fees, records show.
If officials at the Department of Corrections deny the recommendation for boot camp, Greco will go to prison.
He gets credit for 191 days while being held at the county jail on $50,000 bail, which was revoked after the plea.