Against the advice of his attorney, a Round Lake Heights man entered an open guilty plea Wednesday to possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.
Daniel Garcia-Fino, 43, now faces a sentence of up to 50 years in prison, according to Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Rod Drobinski. Garcia-Fino is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 5.
In a court appearance last week before Judge Victoria Rossetti, Garcia-Fino rejected a negotiated plea offer of 20 years in prison, saying he would not accept a deal including more than 12 years.
Garcia-Fino, who has been held in the Lake County Jail on $1 million bail since his Jan. 26 arrest, had been scheduled for trial later this month.
His defense attorney, Randie Bruno, advised against the open plea, which allows Rossetti to sentence Garcia-Fino to between 12 and 50 years in prison.
More Top Picks Best Night Lights For Kids
Garcia-Fino was arrested at his Round Lake Heights residence after an investigation by the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG), which conducts drug investigations, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
He was charged with and has pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, both Class X felonies.
Drobinski said Garcia-Fino was found to be in possession of roughly a pound of methamphetamine.
Drobinski also said Garcia-Fino has numerous prior convictions under different aliases and dates of birth. He said those include one in California for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
He also faces deportation to Mexico following the completion of any prison sentence, Drobinski said.
Twitter @jimnewton5