Killer Makes Plea Deal to Get Out in 4 Years for Teen's Death

 Posted on January 18, 2013 in Criminal Law

The 29-year-old gunman pleaded to a reduced charge that could see him released from prison in less than four years.

A plea deal struck Tuesday in Will County Court could spring a killer from prison in less than four years.

Marcos Camargo, 29, copped to second degree murder and agreed to take a 14-year prison sentence.

But Camargo can get out in half that with good time credit, said his attorney, Cosmo Tedone. And Camargo has already served more than three of those seven years in the Will County jailwhile waiting for his case to play out.

"I just think this is a fair disposition based on the facts of the case, the witnesses, their being no forensic evidence, and the fact that somebody did die," Tedone said.

"Even though my client has maintained his innocence all along, this is a fair disposition," said Tedone, who along with attorney Charles Bretz represented Camargo.

Camargo was indicted on charges of first degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection with a June 2009 killing in Joliet's St. Patrick's neighborhood.

Assistant State's Attorney Chris Koch said that just prior to the fatal shooting, 17-year-old Alfredo Aguirre and "several individuals" chased another man down an alley between Comstock and Illinois streets. Camargo—who was not being chased—then shot Aguirre to death and also allegedly wounded a second man, 22-year-old Anthony Alexander of Plainfield. Alexander took a bullet to his foot.

Koch said Camargo told detectives he was "shooting low but must have shot higher than he thought." Tedone countered that it was actually Alexander who told that to detectives. Koch told Judge Edward Burmila that it showed Camargo had an "unreasonable belief of self-defense."

Alexander is doing three years and three months in Danville Correctional Center for burglary, possession of cannabis and robbery. Tedone said prosecutors had secured a writ to ship Alexander in from Danville to testify against Camargo.

While the sentence deal has been agreed to, it won't be official unless Judge Burmila imposes it on March 5.