Wheeling teen sentenced to boot camp for burglaries
A Wheeling teenager who admitted burglarizing a Palatine residence last summer and serving as a lookout while another man broke into cars in Palatine and Wheeling was sentenced Thursday to the Cook County Sheriff's Department boot camp program.
Boot camp, or impact incarceration program, consists of 18 weeks of military-style physical training, counseling, vocational training and educational assistance, followed by an eight-month post release supervision.
The father of 19-year-old Paul Dini rested his hand on his son's shoulder while Dini's mother clutched his arm as Cook County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Fecarotta imposed the sentence Thursday in Rolling Meadows.
“This is hard on your parents,” said Fecarotta after Dini apologized to the court for the burglaries he and co-defendant Christopher DeLord, 21, committed last August and September. DeLord pleaded guilty in December and was sentenced to six years in prison.
“You're lucky they're standing behind you,” said the judge, adding that not many 19-year-old defendants have that kind of support from their parents.
“You made a mistake,” Fecarotta said. “The trick is not to make the same mistake again.”
Dini, who has no criminal background, admitted he and DeLord entered a Palatine home on Sept. 1 through an unlocked sliding door and removed items. He also admitted keeping watch while DeLord broke into several vehicles in Palatine and Wheeling between Aug. 16 and Aug. 30. The items they took included a GPS unit, radar detectors, radio and car stereo, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Gerber.
The sentencing hearing concluded with a heartfelt statement about Dini's character from defense attorney Nello Gamberdino II.
Reiterating his client's contrition, Gamberdino insisted that Dini has learned from his mistake. He also added that out of all the clients he's represented, he would be comfortable having Dini around his children.
“You will not be seeing him in your courtroom again,” Gamberdino said.