Aurora gunman sentenced to 10 years

An Aurora gang member was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for firing a gun near a middle school more than two years ago, officials said.

Eddie M. Montanez, 21, pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school in exchange for the sentence, approved by Kane County Judge T. Jordan Gallagher. He had faced up to 30 yeas in prison if convicted at trial.

Prosecutors said Montanez fired a .357-caliber Magnum revolver toward a rival gang member about 5 p.m. on July 23, 2007, less than 300 feet from Waldo Middle School, 56 Jackson St. The bullet ricocheted off a house and landed at the feet of an elderly woman sweeping her driveway down the street. No one was hurt.

Under Illinois law, Montanez must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, or eight years and six month. He was given credit for 898 days served in the county jail awaiting trial, according to the Kane County state's attorney's office.