Possible prison sentence ends in 4-year probation

A Kane County judge gave a West Chicago teen four years of probation and a stern warning Wednesday for his part in a botched drug deal and kidnapping.

"If I see you back here, it's only to determine how long you're going to be in the penetentiary," Judge T. Jordan Gallagher told 19-year-old Joshua Mannella, who faced up to 15 years in prison.

Mannella pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated kidnapping and was convicted along with his mother, Wilma Mannella, and her boyfriend, Patrick T. Conlin, in connection with the hostage situation nearly three years ago at their St. Charles Township home.

At a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Joshua Mannella apologized to the victims and his family before begging Gallagher to "take a chance" by putting him on probation.

"I never intended for things to be so messed up," he said.

The kidnapping happened about 4 a.m. Nov. 12, 2006, when three gang members tried to buy marijuana from Mannella using counterfeit bills. Police said Mannella, then 16, responded by summoning his mother and her boyfriend, who arrived with a cache of loaded weapons and helped take the buyers hostage.

Assistant State's Attorney Mark Stajdohar said one female victim described being pepper sprayed and beaten by Mannella as the "scariest thing in the world" and "something that will be with me forever."

But defense attorney Dean Kekos blamed the situation on his client's age, below-average IQ and the influence of adults in his life. He said Conlin took the incident "to another level" by supplying guns.

"Everybody doesn't live with Cleavers or the Brady Bunch," Kekos said.

Stajdohar, who asked the judge for an eight-year prison sentence, said Mannella has repeatedly flaunted his probation in two previous juvenile cases, owes nearly $5,000 in unpaid restitution, and was arrested twice on drug-related charges since his arrest in the kidnapping case.

"He does not deserve a third chance," Stajdohar said.

Gallagher said he took into consideration Mannella's two children, one of whom lives with him, in putting him on probation. In addition, Mannella must spend six months on electronic home monitoring, enter a substance abuse program, complete 100 hours of community services from a previous case, and pay restitution, fines and costs totaling $1,100.

Mannella, who now lives in West Chicago, told the judge he has a job and wants to "be a good father."

"I have changed so much since this took place," he said. "I will not let you down."