Round Lake Beach man accepts plea deal for July shooting
A 20-year-old man was sentenced to nine years in prison after accepting a plea deal with prosecutors Monday for shooting someone in the leg in Round Lake Beach last summer.
Dustin Neal, of the 1600 block of Brentwood Drive in Round Lake Beach, is required to serve 50 percent of the prison sentence before being eligible for parole, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Hoffert said.
As part of the negotiated plea deal in front of Judge Daniel Shanes, Neal will received 253 days credit for time he has served in Lake County jail.
He will be placed on two years of probation when he is released from jail, officials said. Neal was also granted a request to be placed in a substance abuse program while in prison.
"It was a fair disposition," defense attorney Barry Boches said after the hearing. "Hopefully, he will be able to turn things around while in prison and be a good citizen of the state when he is released."
Neal was charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm and three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm after authorities said he shot a 21-year-old man at Fairfield and Mayfield roads at 8:12 p.m. on July 29.
The victim was injured in the shooting, but made a full recovery, officials have said.
Had the case gone to trial, and had Neal been found guilty of the most serious aggravated battery with a firearm charge, he could have been sentenced to up to 60 years in prison.
The remaining charges against Neal were dropped as part of the negotiated plea deal.
Family members declined to comment after the hearing.