Elgin man gets 5 years' prison in gang fight

A man with a long criminal history was sentenced to five years in prison Friday for his role in a gang fight in Elgin in 2014.

Jerome M. Murry, 27, of the 200 block of Chaparral Circle, Elgin, pleaded guilty last month to felony mob action and was sentenced Friday by Kane County Judge D.J. Tegeler.

Murry was eligible for an extended term based on his criminal history, which prosecutors say Tegeler cited, including 18 convictions since 2006 for violent and nuisance offenses. Three of the convictions were felonies; Murry had been to prison three times in the past.

Prosecutors said a pair of Murry's fellow gang members were leaving a store on the 100 block of Kimball Street in Elgin when they ran into two rival gang members. The men exchanged words before Murry's friends left to find him. The pair returned with Murry, entered the store and fought. No one was seriously injured, prosecutors said.

According to Illinois law, Murry can have his sentence halved for good behavior behind bars and he gets credit for 209 days for being held at the Kane County jail while the case was pending.