N. Chicago man gets probation for helping hide beating victims
A North Chicago man who admitted helping to hide a badly-beaten cabdriver who later died because of his injuries was placed on 30 months probation Tuesday in Lake County Circuit Court.
Michael Vargas, 50, pleaded guilty to concealment of a homicidal death and was facing up to seven years in prison.
Assistant State's Attorney Marykay Foy said Vargas was present Sept. 30, 2007 when cabdriver Joseph Burnell was attacked in the 2400 block of 22nd Street in North Chicago.
Police say Amittie Brown, 23, also of the 2400 block of 22nd Street, hit Burnell several times in the back of the head with a pistol while robbing him.
Burnell fell to the ground with severe brain injuries, Foy said, and Vargas helped Brown drag Burnell into a nearby vacant lot.
Burnell laid in the lot for 12 to 14 hours before police found him, Foy said, and he was airlifted to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
Burnell died at the hospital about a week after the attack, Foy said, and Brown and Vargas were charged with first-degree murder.
Foy said she agreed to reduce the charge against Vargas in exchange for his guilty plea and a promise to testify truthfully against Brown.
Because Brown has not yet gone to trial and Vargas has not testified, Foy declined to recommend a sentence Tuesday to Associate Judge George Bridges.
Defense attorney John Murphy of Waukegan asked Bridges to give his client probation, saying Vargas has no prior felony convictions and is being treated for substance abuse.
Bridges agreed to do so, but ordered Vargas spend the first year of his probation in the Lake County jail where he will be released only to work and attend substance abuse treatment.
Brown was found psychologically unfit to stand trial on the murder charge in June and is being treated by the state Department of Human Services.
A status report on the progress of that treatment is due to be filed with the court Nov. 22.
If Brown does go to trial and is convicted, he faces a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.