Teen gets jail, probation for Lake in the Hills gang rumble

A Lake in the Hills teen charged as an adult for his role in a 2009 gang brawl that sparked a widespread community response was sentenced Friday to 120 days in jail as part of a plea deal.

Mohammad Awwad, 17, of the 100 block of Pheasant Trail, also must serve two years probation and undergo five random drug tests as part of the agreement in which he admitted guilt to a felony aggravated battery charge.

"He wanted to put this behind him," Awwad attorney Matthew Haiduk said. "If he can show for the next two years that he can live like and adult, then he can move on with his life."

The agreement comes one day after Awwad pleaded guilty in a Kane County courtroom to a felony drug charge stemming from his March arrest on allegations he sold marijuana to an undercover police officer in Carpentersville. He also received two years probation on that case.

The aggravated battery charge stemmed from a July 3 fracas in which he, two of his brothers and a fourth man were accused of beating a 17-year-old boy who walked past the Awwad home sporting rival gang colors.

Awwad and his younger brother, Wasfi Awwad, 16, initially were charged as juveniles, but a judge later moved them to adult court. Charges of aggravated battery and mob action remain pending against Wasfi Awwad and the fourth man accused in the fight, Jonathan M. Rodriguez, 18, of Lake in the Hills.

Charges against the oldest brother, Mazin Awwad, 18, were dismissed as part of a March 26 plea deal in which he admitted to an unrelated robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison.

The incident was one of several last year that led Lake in the Hills police to hold an informational gang forum with residents and step up anti-gang efforts.

McHenry County prosectors said Friday that of Mohammad Awwad violates his probation, they will bring him to court and seek the maximum five-year prison term for aggravated battery.