Wadsworth man gets 12 years in ambush attack

A Wadsworth man who police said opened fire on three people he had lured to his house was sentenced to 12 years in prison Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

Joseph Hunter, 30, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon during a hearing before Circuit Judge Fred Foreman.

Assistant State's Attorney James Newman said Hunter had a female friend call a Zion man and tell him she wanted to meet with him in the early morning hours of June 6.

That man, along with another Zion man and a Waukegan man who was driving, followed the woman's directions to Hunter's house in the 1300 block of Wadsworth Road.

As the car pulled into the driveway, Hunter fired a rifle five to six times at the vehicle and struck the driver in the pelvic area.

Newman said the man was hospitalized for several days after the shooting, but is recovering and had approved the plea agreement finalized Wednesday.

Additional charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm were dropped in exchange for Hunter's plea.

Newman said Hunter was convicted of drug possession in 2001, 2002 and 2004, and was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison.