Aurora man's life sentence for two murders now 109 years
An Aurora man given a life sentence for two 2002 murders now has a chance of getting out of prison - if he can live until he is 131.
Matthew A. Quigley, now 30, was convicted as a teen in May 2007 of gunning down David Morales, 23, of Aurora, in October 2002; prosecutors said Quigley wanted to increase rank in his street gang.
Quigley was issued a then-mandatory life prison sentence for that murder because Quigley had a previous murder conviction: the November 2002 shooting death of Erbel Valdez, 15, of Aurora.
Quigley was tried an adult at age 17, permissible in some instances under Illinois law.
However, a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision made mandatory life sentences for juveniles unconstitutional.
Kane County Judge James Hallock last week sentenced Quigley to 45 years in prison for the Morales murder.
That sentence, plus a 64-year sentence for the Valdez murder, totals 109 years. He is credited for eight years already served. Quigley's sentence comes without any chance of early release.