Fox Lake man facing prison in fatal DUI crash pleads guilty to domestic battery
A Fox Lake man already facing prison time for his role in a DUI crash that killed a McHenry man last year pleaded guilty Monday to attacking his ex-girlfriend while he was previously out on bond.
Anthony Cechini, 24, of the 0 to 100 block of Northlake Avenue, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of domestic battery in front of Judge Daniel Shanes.
Because the charge was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor as part of the plea agreement, Cechini faces one year in prison, Shanes said.
Assistant State's Attorney Jason Humke said the state agreed to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor as part of the plea deal, but only after speaking with the unidentified victim in the case.
“Although, at the end of the day, it's up to the state's attorney's office to approve the charge, we take input from the victim prior to a plea deal being offered,” Humke said.
This is the second time Cechini has pleaded guilty to a crime in front of Shanes in the last month. On Oct. 18, he pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol that resulted in death for a crash that killed his friend, David Letchinger, 21, of McHenry.
Authorities said Cechini was intoxicated when he got behind the wheel of a 2004 Subaru and headed west on Nippersink Road in Fox Lake on Oct. 18, 2012. He lost control of the vehicle near the village's Lakefront Park and hit a tree, killing Letchinger and injuring a second passenger in the vehicle.
Authorities said Cechini had a blood alcohol level of .189 at the time of the crash.
He was out on bond for 11 months and preparing for a plea agreement when he got into the physical altercation with his ex-girlfriend. He was brought back to the Lake County jail where he has remained held in lieu of $1 million bail, authorities said.
Defense attorney Doug Zeit said Cechini accepted an Alfred plea Monday, which means the defendant maintains he did nothing wrong, but acknowledges there is enough evidence to convict him.
Cechini is due to be sentenced by Shanes for both crimes Dec. 5.