Carpentersville man found guilty of murder of girlfriend's toddler

A Carpentersville man was found guilty Friday in the beating death of his former girlfriend's 2-year-old son, a verdict that likely will result in a life sentence.

Andres Velazquez, 29, was convicted of one of the two first-degree murder offenses he faced in the death of Ernest LeFlore Jr., who was severely injured Dec. 30, 2005, and died about a week later.

The verdict, which caps off a two-day bench trial late last month before Kane County Judge Timothy Sheldon, warrants a natural life sentence, in part because of boy's age.

Sheldon said while Velazquez maintained he was roughhousing and didn't intend to hurt Ernest, the child's injuries indicted Velazquez knew he was causing serious harm.

"He knew he had used a lot of force," Sheldon said.

Limp in his mother's arms and barely breathing, Ernest was taken to Sherman Hospital in Elgin suffering from a fractured skull, a broken collarbone and other injuries.

He died Jan. 6, 2006, at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago as a result of the beating, which doctors have said was no accident.

Velazquez did not react to the verdict, which he plans to appeal, said David Kliment, the county's public defender.

Police said Velazquez told them he'd been baby-sitting Ernest and his sister while their mother was at work at a restaurant and tossed Ernest across a bedroom twice.

"This in no way was horseplay … the defendant didn't stop and, as a result, we now have an innocent child that's now dead," prosecutor Bill Engerman said.

Ernest's mother, Chanet Robinson, hugged prosecutors after Sheldon's decision and said she felt justice had been served.

Velazquez is in the Kane County jail and is set to be sentenced Sept. 4.