A man who bragged 21 times in two years about murdering a rival gang member who lived in Carpentersville was sentenced Monday to 55 years in prison.
Jesus Lechuga, 38, of Belvidere, was found guilty by a Kane County jury in July 2021 of going to the home of José Covarrubias and shooting him in the head through his bedroom window, a state’s attorney office news release said.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight March 1, 2004, when Lechuga went to Covarrubias’ house on Chippewa Drive, knocked on Covarrubias’ window, waited for him to come over and then shot him with a .357-caliber revolver, prosecutors said in the release.
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“Lechuga then went to his gang leader’s home to take credit for the murder,” the release said. “Others present overheard Lechuga claim responsibility for the fatal shooting. … Lechuga bragged about the fatal shooting at least 21 times during the next 2 years.”
Kane County Judge Alice C. Tracy sentenced him to 30 years for first-degree murder and added 25 more years “because Lechuga personally fired the gun used in the crime,” the release said.
Under Illinois law, Lechuga must serve the full sentence. He will receive credit for 512 days served in the Kane County jail, the release said.
“Mr. Lechuga killed José Covarrubias without a thought for him and his family.” Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Stajdohar said. “He now has decades to sit in prison and think about it.”