Man takes deal in jury-tampering case

A Schaumburg man pleaded guilty Tuesday to communicating with a juror in an Elgin murder case.

Brian D. Long, 24, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. He will receive credit for 103 days served in the Kane County jail while he awaited trial.

The deal was approved by Kane County Associate Judge James Hallock. Long could have received probation or up to three years in prison for the Class 4 felony.

Long was arrested June 14 at the Kane County Judicial Center after court security workers saw him approaching jurors, who were in a hallway outside of the courtroom during a break in jury selection. He wrote down their names, then made phone calls and sent text messages. He had also been seen taking notes in court during jury selection.

Judge T. Jordan Gallagher, who was presiding over the murder trial, ordered him arrested. He then declared a mistrial after a juror said they were uncomfortable with the situation.

The murder trial was that of Raul Perez-Gonzalez, who is accused along with two other men with shooting a woman to death in January 2009 during a gang-related argument.

Perez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Aug. 30, and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Long is a gang associate of Perez-Gonzalez, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's office.