Man gets 53 months in attempted kidnapping of Fenton student

A Chicago man who grabbed and chased a 16-year-old girl as she walked to Fenton High School last April pleaded guilty and received a 53-month prison sentence.

Mario Booker, 25, was sentenced after pleading guilty to aggravated battery in a public place.

According to court records, the girl was walking to school on April 12, 2013 when Booker, holding a knife, approached her near the corner of Green Street and Logan Way. Booker grabbed the girl but she escaped and ran to the school. Nearby motorists saw Booker chasing the girl and called police.

He was arrested a short time later and was initially charged with three counts of armed violence, one count of attempted aggravating kidnapping with a weapon, one count of attempted kidnapping, one count of aggravated unlawful restraint, one count of unlawful restraint, two counts of intimidation and two counts of aggravated battery in a public place.

Prosecutors last week waived 10 of those counts in exchange for Booker's guilty plea to one count of aggravated battery in a public place.

Booker must serve half of the 53-month sentence. He received credit for the 12 months he has been held in DuPage County Jail on $400,000 bond and will be eligible for parole in June 2015.