Elgin man gets boot camp for shooting girlfriend

A 23-year-old Elgin man must complete a six-month boot camp or face eight years in prison after admitting he shot his girlfriend in the face in June.

Jason Allen also must pay an $800 fine after pleading guilty this week to aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Because a person was injured during the crime, Allen would have to serve 85 percent of his sentence - or about 6 1/2 years - after his credit for 144 days in jail is taken into account.

The charge carried term of 4 to 15 years. Judge Philip DiMarzio approved the plea agreement.

As part of the agreement, prosecutors Monday dropped charges of aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery with a firearm. The latter and most serious term carried a prison term of 6 to 30 years.

At 12:45 a.m. June 8, police were called to Allen's apartment in the 1200 block of Abbot Drive after the two had argued and Allen shot his then-23-year-old girlfriend with a 9 mm handgun.

The bullet struck her skull at the forehead, traveled under the skin and exited near the top rear of her head. The bullet never penetrated her skull, possibly because she moved backward when she saw the gun, police said.

She was treated at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin and released.

This is Allen's first conviction for a violent crime in Kane County.

In 2006, he was twice arrested by Elgin police for possession of marijuana. In April 2007, St. Charles police arrested him on charges of driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia.