Spring Grove man pleads guilty to beating woman

A Spring Grove man charged with abducting a woman at gunpoint and beating her for two days pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, officials said.

Dvino E. Thomas, 30, of the 39200 block of North Jackson Drive, was sentenced to 30 months of probation, 77 days in Lake County jail and 100 hours of public service for his role in the Dec. 27 attack. The 77-day jail sentence has been served, officials said.

Thomas is not allowed to have contact with the victim, or consume alcohol or illegal drugs while on probation, and he must pay about $5,500 in fees and $1,370 in restitution to the victim, Judge Daniel Shanes ordered Tuesday.

If any portion of the agreement is violated, Shanes said, he would recharge Thomas and sentence him up to 10 years in prison.

"This is an extraordinarily serious thing that happened," Shanes told Thomas. "I will put you on probation, but if you fail to comply with it in any way, you may still be looking at a long term in prison."

Charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated domestic battery, possession of a firearm by a felon and unlawful restraint were dropped by prosecutors in exchange for the plea deal.

Assistant State's Attorney Lauren Kalcheim-Rothenberg said in court the victim approved the plea deal.

"She (victim) did not want him (Thomas) to be incarcerated," Kalcheim-Rothenberg said.

Thomas and Jori A. Urgo, 21, also of the 39200 block of North Jackson Drive, were charged after the victim complained she was beaten and held at gunpoint for two days, authorities said.

The victim told police she was at the Spring Grove residence with Thomas and Urgo when she got into an argument with Thomas. He punched the victim and struck her in the face with an object, authorities said. Urgo also punched her, authorities said.

Thomas threatened the victim with a gun and said he'd kill her if she left the house or notified police, authorities said. He took her car keys and refused to let her leave, according to the sheriff's office.

The victim was allowed to leave the residence two days later, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment of a broken nose, a broken eye socket and various other bruises.

Thomas and Urgo were arrested Jan. 11 and 12, respectively, according to the sheriff's office.

Urgo pleaded guilty to aggravated battery June 13 and was sentenced to 180 days of supervision, 50 hours of public service, and required to turn over truthful testimony if needed against Thomas at trial.