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player ready...A Beach Park man pleaded guilty Monday to obstructing justice for his role in the overdose death of a 21-year-old Schaumburg man.
Under the plea, James Spencer, 47, will serve 12 months of probation and six months of work release in Lake County Jail.
The deal is similar to the one Spencer’s son, 22-year-old Mason Spencer, accepted in April. Mason Spencer also agreed to testify against his father if the case went to trial.
Both Spencers were initially charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Russell Eilrich, who was found dead in his car Jan 10. in Beach Park.
Authorities said Eilrich overdosed on heroin at the Spencers’ home, and Mason and James Spencer put Eilrich back in his car, drove it to a nearby location and left him. Prosecutors said both Spencers had also used heroin the night Eilrich overdosed.
Judge Patricia Fix approved the plea deal for James Spencer. The sentence also includes drug-treatment evaluation, random drug testing throughout the probation and a no-alcohol order. He will also be required to perform 200 hours of public service and pay $2,171 in court costs and fines.
In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped the involuntary manslaughter charge, which could have resulted in a two- to five-year prison term if convicted.
After the hearing, defense attorney Eric Rinehart said James Spencer wished to release a statement that he “would like to express my sympathies and condolences to the Eilrich family.”
Mason Spencer was sentenced to one year of felony probation, random drug testing, mandatory substance-abuse treatment and 100 hours of public service.
Eilrich’s father, Tim Eilrich, read a statement at Mason Spencer’s sentencing and again at James Spencer’s Monday hearing.
“For our family, today ends the darkest chapter of our lives by far,” Tim Eilrich said.
He added that he believes if either Spencer had called 911 then their son would still be alive.
“We’ll always think that we were three digits away from seeing his wonderful smile again, but now that will always be gone as long as we live,” he said. “God bless you Russell, we miss you so much.”
Twitter @JimNewton5