Man Gets 55 Years For Shooting One Girlfriend, Trying To Have Another Killed
ST. CHARLES, Ill. (STMW) -- A northwest suburban man confronted by two girlfriends who found out about each other has been sentenced to a total of 55 years in prison for trying to kill the mother of his child after pleading guilty to trying to have the other woman killed.
Bernardino Hernandez Jr., 25, of the 800 block of South Liberty Street in Elgin, was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years in prison by Circuit Judge Karen Simpson, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's office.
Hernandez was convicted by a jury on May 28 of of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm for shooting the mother of his daughter, according to a statement from prosecutors. The jury deliberated for about three hours.
Hernandez was sentenced to 10 years for the attempted murder and 10 years for the aggravated battery, to be served concurrently, the statement said.
In addition, he was sentenced to a mandatory enhancement of 25 years in prison because he personally discharged the firearm.
In June 2008, Hernandez was confronted by the mother of his toddler daughter and a second woman with whom he'd been having an intimate relationship after they learned of the love triangle, according to prosecutors. During the confrontation, the girl's mother threatened to deny visitation.
About 3 a.m. on June 26, 2008, Hernandez went to that woman's home in the 300 block of Ann Street in Elgin, knocked on her bedroom window, and when she stepped toward a door to let him in, fired a .380 caliber Bersa pistol through the window, striking her in the back three times, according to prosecutors. The victim survived, but was in intensive care for 10 days.
The 35-year sentence Hernandez received Wednesday will be served consecutively to a 20-year sentence he is already serving for trying to solicit the murder of the other girlfriend while awaiting trial in 2010, prosecutors said.
The woman was expected to testify against him during his attempted murder trial. In January 2012, Hernandez pleaded guilty to solicitation for murder, a Class X felony.
Hernandez must serve at least 85 percent of the total 55 years of his sentence, the statement said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
