An Aurora man has been sentenced to a total of 125 years in state prison after being convicted of first-degree murder, armed violence and burglary in connection with a fatal shooting in the city in 2021, the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a news release Monday.
According to the release, Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys David Belshan, Katy Flannagan and Tyler Cox in court said that Michael E. James, 41, of Aurora, and a co-defendant had created a plan to commit a robbery on Dec. 18, 2021.
After entering the apartment of Edward Smith Jr. in the 400 block of Clark Street in Aurora for the attempted robbery, James fatally shot Smith during the incident, according to the release.
James was convicted on May 20 by a jury of first-degree murder, armed violence and residential burglary, the State’s Attorney’s Office said. The first-degree murder conviction carried with it a sentence of 75 years in prison, which James must serve the entirety of, according to the release. For the armed violence conviction, he was sentenced to 35 years, of which he must serve 85%. For the residential burglary conviction, he was sentenced to 15 years, of which he must serve 50%, the release said.
The armed violence sentence is to be served consecutively with the murder sentence, and the residential burglary time to be served consecutively with the other two sentences, according to the release.
James is receiving credit for just over three years and three months served in the Kane County Jail, officials said.