Man gets 7 years for Lake Co. home burglaries

The last of four people arrested in connection with a string of house burglaries throughout Lake County was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Instead of the usual maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, Michael Zentz, 25, faced no more than eight years because of a plea negotiation with prosecutors.

Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz said Zentz and three others, all of whom lived in the 3400 block of Dixie Avenue in Park City, were accused of six residential burglaries in Gurnee, Grayslake, Libertyville and Beach Park between June 29 and Sept. 26, 2008.

They were arrested as they attempted to sell some of the stolen property at a pawnshop in unincorporated Lake County.

Jewelry, cash and electronics worth thousands of dollars were stolen in the burglaries, and the profits were spent on drugs.

Zentz told Circuit Judge Fred Foreman he has been using heroin since he was 15 years old, and was spending $120 a day on the drug before his arrest.

Fisz asked Foreman to impose the full eight years, saying Zentz has been convicted of residential burglary twice as an adult and once as a juvenile.

Defense attorney Robert Ritacca argued for leniency because his client had cooperated with police once he was linked to the crimes.

In May, brothers Alexis Gorgas, 26, and Ricardo Gorgas, 22, were both sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty.

Both have the potential to earn early release if they successfully complete the impact incarceration program.

Tiffany Driggers, 19, was placed on probation in December after pleading guilty to the reduced charge of theft.