A judge sentenced an Antioch man to probation after he was convicted of an attack on a private investigator, who said he was punched more than 100 times and suffered severe injuries near Antioch.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said they responded to a disturbance in progress on the evening of January 20, 2021, at Nicklaus Way and Harbor Ridge Drive in unincorporated Antioch.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a victim, a 51-year-old Island Lake man, who had been severely beaten, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with multiple broken bones for treatment. He underwent multiple surgeries.
Covelli said the man, who was working as a private investigator, was in the area for a case he was investigating.
The victim was parked in his vehicle conducting surveillance and also had notified the sheriff’s office he would be in the area.
While conducting his investigation, the victim was approached by Russell S. Wright, 25, and Steven T. Wright, 65, both of Antioch.
Covelli said the two used a vehicle to block in the victim’s car so he could not leave the scene.
The Wrights then forced the victim’s car door open and slapped a video camera from his hands, Covelli said.
Russell Wright entered the car and allegedly began beating the victim and then Steven Wright also allegedly beat the victim.
The victim was able to dial 911 but one of the men took the victim’s cell phone and smashed it on the ground, Covelli said.
The 911 call still went through and 911 dispatchers were able to figure out there was a problem and dispatched sheriff’s deputies.
The sheriff’s office said at the time that there was no connection between the Wrights and the private investigator, and the investigator was not conducting surveillance on them.
Russell Wright and Steven Wright were both charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated battery in a public place and robbery.
In late June, a jury trial began for Russell Wright.
The victim in the case testified he was punched over 100 times by the Wrights, who had confronted him about why he had been parked on their street, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The jury returned a guilty verdict for one of the aggravated battery counts and a not guilty finding for the second aggravated battery charge and the robbery charge, court records show.
During a sentencing hearing Wednesday, Lake County Judge Patricia Fix sentenced Russell Wright to 30 months of probation.
He was ordered to pay restitution to the victim for his medical expenses. A periodic imprisonment sentence was stayed as long as he pays the restitution.
Court records show Steven Wright was found not guilty in a directed verdict in October.