A man has pleaded guilty after prosecutors say he worked with 15-20 other motorcyclists to surround a 61-year-old man’s car before “brutally” beating the victim while armed in Lake in the Hills last month.
Julio C. Salas, 36, of Sleepy Hollow, was charged in June with aggravated battery in a public place, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, mob action, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, two counts of battery and disorderly conduct.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department and Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire District responded around 3:50 p.m. on June 13 to the area of Route 31 and Virginia Road in Lake in the Hills for a report of an assault victim.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said the victim’s vehicle was encircled by a group of motorcycles, forcing them to a stop.
Approximately 15-20 people riding motorcycles acted together, including Salas, the complaint said.
Salas “unlawfully restrained” the victim by his and the group’s actions in preventing the victim from leaving, the complaint said.
Prosecutors said that Salas approached the 61-year-old male victim’s car, along with others from his group.
Salas brandished a large knife during the altercation with the victim before physically attacking him, the complaint said.
Prosecutors said Salas “brutally” struck the victim multiple times in the face and head with both his fists and a motorcycle helmet.
The victim suffered multiple injuries to his body, including significant bruising and swelling beneath his right eye, prosecutors said. Paramedics were called to the scene to treat the victim.
Salas and the rest of the group of motorcyclists fled the scene after the attack.
Officers with the Crystal Lake Police Department were able to stop most of the riders.
The victim was brought to various locations where the motorcyclists had been stopped and was able to identify Salas as the primary aggressor who physically attacked him, prosecutors said.
Court documents said the victim was accused of striking Salas’ motorcycle. A witness told police the victim was getting “the s–t beat out of him.”
Lake in the Hills Police Department arrested Salas and transported him to the McHenry County Jail.
Salas appeared in Initial Appearance Court where the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Salas poses a real and present threat to the safety of the victim and the community.
McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer granted the petition following the hearing. The judge said the allegations were “terrifying” and the reaction to the alleged contact between the car and motorcycle was inappropriate.
“Violence on our roadways will not be tolerated. The allegations in this case describe a baseless, senseless, and brutal attack on a 61-year-old man by a group of motorcyclists,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Freese said at the time.
Salas entered a blind plea of guilty on Friday to one count of aggravated battery in a public place, a Class 3 felony, in front of McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt.
“This man admitted his guilt for an act of senseless violence that turned an ordinary drive into a terrifying ordeal for the victim. No one should fear being forced off the roadway and violently assaulted simply for traveling our streets,” Freese said.
There was no agreement on a sentence as the plea entered was a “blind plea.” The sentence will be determined by a judge.
Salas remains held in the jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 11 for a sentencing hearing.
The judge will consider a pre-sentence investigation report, victim impact evidence and arguments in aggravation and mitigation to determine a sentence.