Man sentenced for burglarizing church, robbing man at gunpoint
An Aurora man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for burglarizing a church in 2009 and robbing a man at gunpoint earlier this year.
Judge Timothy Sheldon accepted the plea from Luis A. Arita, 21, of the 400 block of Spring Street, for burglary and aggravated robbery.
If Arita had received the maximum sentence for both offenses, he could have been sent to prison for 22 years.
Authorities said at about 3 a.m. Sept. 3, 2009, officers responded to a 911 call to a church in the 100 block of North State Street, Aurora, and found Arita hiding in the dining hall.
Authorities said Arita acknowledged he broke into the church to try and find televisions and other large items to steal.
On March 14, 2011, while free on bond, Arita made plans to sell a video game system and arranged to meet a man in an alley in the 900 block of Liberty Street. The victim went to the area with his 11-year-old son. Arita pulled a handgun and got the victim to turn over $1,300, authorities said.
Arita got seven years for the aggravated robbery and three years for the burglary. The sentences will be served consecutively, and Arita can have his sentence halved for good behavior.
Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney David Belshan prosecuted the case.
Jail for felony DUI: A South Elgin man who was accused of driving drunk with his two toddlers in the back seat last fall has pleaded guilty to felony DUI and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, 15 months of probation and 200 hours of community service, according to court records.Brent A. Hackl, 39, of the 600 block of Waters Edge Drive, also is due in court again in February 2012 for a review of his community service hours.Kane County Judge Marmarie Kostelny accepted the plea, in which prosecutors dismissed several traffic offenses and misdemeanor charges of child endangerment, court records show. Hackl also must pay nearly $3,100 in fines and fees.South Elgin Police said Hackl was driving his silver Jeep near Randall and Gire roads at about 4 p.m. Oct. 1, 2010 when an off-duty Marengo police officer called 911 to report Hackl driving erratically.South Elgin police stopped Hackl and officers saw two 3-year-old children in the back of the Jeep, as well as several open beer cans and wine bottles inside the vehicle.Reminder: The fifth-annual dinner/dance to raise money for Kane County SWAT is 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Prairie Events Center at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles.Tickets are $30 each or two for $50 and include a buffet dinner, dancing and a live band. There also will be a cash bar, raffles and other prizes.Call David Wolfe at (630) 444-1125.hhitzeman@dailyherald.com