Man gets 18 months for lying to police officer

A Mundelein man was sentenced to 18 months in prison Thursday after he admitted he lied about his name to a police officer.

Edgar Sanchez-Ortega, 35, of 26000 block of Hickory Street, was stopped by an officer for a traffic violation on Route 45 on the afternoon of Aug. 20.

When the officer asked for identification, Assistant State's Attorney Brett Henne said, Sanchez-Ortega gave him a false name and date of birth and said he did not have a driver's license.

While doing a pat-down search after arresting Sanchez-Ortega for driving without a license, Henne said the officer found a small package of cocaine.

Sanchez-Ortega admitted his real name when confronted with a Mexican government identification card police found in his vehicle.

Henne said Sanchez-Ortega admitted lying about his name because there was a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a DUI charge.

Henne agreed to drop possession of cocaine charges against Sanchez-Ortega in exchange for a guilty plea to obstruction of justice.

Both charges carried a maximum penalty of three years in prison.