40-minute crime spree lands Elgin man in prison for four years
A 22-year-old Elgin man who showed his appreciation to a Good Samaritan by trying to punch him and carjacking his SUV landed a four-year prison sentence today under a plea bargain he struck with McHenry County prosecutors.
Hugo Benitez, 158 S. Union St., admitted guilt to vehicular hijacking under the deal in which he also was fined $750 for driving under the influence and without a valid driver's license. In return, prosecutors dismissed nine other charges, including possession of a stolen vehicle, assault, criminal damage to property and obstructing a peace officer.
The charges all stem from a 40-minute crime spree in Huntley Dec. 22 that included the carjacking, another car theft, two crashes and two victims that were fortunate to escape their encounters with Benitez relatively unscathed.
The string of crimes began about 6:15 a.m. that day, authorities said, when Benitez left a friend's home in Huntley after a night of heavy drinking. Walking in the 1100 block of North Church Street, police said, Benitez came upon a pickup truck left running in a driveway by its owner.
Benitez jumped in the truck and sped off, but the ride didn't last long, police said. Driving along Haligus Road, police said, Benitez lost control of the truck, slammed it into a utility pole and spun it off into a ditch, police said.
A female driver came upon the crash scene and offered help, but Benitez responded by striking her in the head and trying to take her car. Police said she managed to get away from him and drive to her workplace for help.
A short time later, a man came upon the scene, pulled over and got out of his SUV to offer assistance, police said. Benitez, charges allege, took a swing at the man, then jumped into his vehicle and drove away.
Once again, the ride didn't last long. With officers from Huntley, Lake in the Hills and Algonquin giving chase, police said, Benitez drove through a dead end at Main Street, across a field and over a fence before coming to a stop near a residential neighborhood.
A short time later officers hearing a crashing sound near Main Street and Fairbluff Avenue found Benitez smashing a landscaping brick into a car window in an apparent attempt to break in, police said.
Although Benitez has no significant criminal history, prosecutors said today that the prison sentence was necessary because of the volume and type of crimes he committed that morning.
"Luckily the victims weren't seriously injured, but he definitely does not deserve probation," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Sharyl Eisenstein said.
With time served since his arrest in December and possible day-for-day credit while in prison, Benitez could be eligible for parole in less than 18 months. However, federal authorities already have placed a hold on the Mexican citizen and are likely to deport him once his sentence is complete, authorities said.