James D. Mercer, 20, of Rockford.

A judge sentenced a Rockford man to 20 years in prison for trying to burglarize a car at a home near Woodstock and then opening fire on a resident who confronted him.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded in the early morning hours of January 21, 2023, to the 5100 block of Timber Lane in unincorporated Woodstock for a report of shots fired.

Deputies learned that an attempted car burglary occurred, the sheriff’s office said.

The victim told deputies a male suspect entered his vehicle, which was parked in an open carport near his house.

The suspect fired four rounds from a handgun in the direction of the victim as he approached, the sheriff’s office said.

The suspect continued to fire shots as he ran to a waiting car in the roadway. The suspect then fled the area.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene and conducted an investigation.

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Evidence was obtained during the investigation that led to the suspect being identified as James D. Mercer, 20, of Rockford.

Mercer was charged in March 2023 with attempted first-degree murder, four counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and six counts of reckless discharge of a firearm.

Mercer was already in custody at that time at the Winnebago County Jail on unrelated charges for another shooting.

He was later charged in December 2023 with residential burglary, burglary and identity theft for other incidents that also occurred on January 21, 2023.

A grand jury indictment said Mercer burglarized a home in the 1400 block of White Oak Lane in Woodstock and burglarized a Ford Fusion parked in the 1200 block of Redtail Circle in Woodstock, which he stole a debit card from and then used to purchase prepaid gift cards.

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Prosecutors said Mercer gave a video confession to sheriff’s detectives and also provided them with a handwritten apology letter to the victim in the shooting.

Court records show Mercer entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office last week.

He pleaded guilty to one count of home invasion while armed with a dangerous weapon, a Class X felony, and one count of residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. The rest of the charges were dismissed.

McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt sentenced Mercer to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for the home invasion charge and four years in the IDOC for the residential burglary charge pursuant to the plea agreement.

The sentences will be served concurrently for a total of 20 years at 50% in accordance with truth-in-sentencing guidelines. Mercer will receive credit for 497 days spent in custody pending trial.

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Mercer’s Winnebago County case charging him with armed robbery and aggravated discharge of a firearm remains active and he is scheduled to appear in court again on March 6.