Aurora man gets 9 years for attack that damaged man's face, eye
An Aurora man is going to prison for an unprovoked attack that left a man with significant facial injuries.
The Kane County state's attorney's office announced Sweed A. Strickland, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated battery. He accepted a sentence of nine years in prison.
According to a news release, Strickland was chasing his girlfriend along New York Street in Aurora on July 24, 2018, when he encountered two bystanders. Strickland approached the victim, who was more than 60 years old and sitting on the front porch of his house, and punched him several times in the face. He broke the victim's nose and severed an artery in one of his eyes.
Witnesses recognized Strickland, who lived in the neighborhood, and identified him to police. Strickland lived on the 0-99 block of North Loucks Street.
Strickland will have to serve at least 85% of the sentence. He will receive credit for 387 days he spent in the Kane County jail since his arrest.
According to the news release, Strickland was convicted in 1999 for aggravated battery with a firearm, and in 2016 for aggravated battery to a peace officer.
He was charged in September 2012 with attempted murder, accused of running over a man during a fight in a parking lot. He ended up pleading guilty to aggravated battery and was sentenced to five years in prison.