An Avondale man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting a man while he was on affordable bail for a pending felony gun case in February 2020. He also received two years for the gun charge.
Enrique Soto posted a $200 deposit to get out of jail on charges of possessing a stolen firearm, felony unlawful use of a weapon, and resisting in August 2019, according to court records.
Less than three months later, on November 7, he shot an 18-year-old man during a robbery attempt near the corner of George and Hamlin streets, prosecutors said
Coincidentally, the shooting and robbery took place just three days after Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans raved about his new affordable bail program during a budget presentation before county commissioners.
“It’s not by magic that we haven’t had any horrible incidents occur using this new [bail] system,” Evans said in his provably false November 4, 2019, statement.
Soto has now pleaded guilty to aggravated battery by discharging a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. The sentences will be served consecutively. Prosecutors dropped multiple felonies in the plea deal, including attempted murder, according to court records. Judge Shelley Sutker-Dermer oversaw the case and sentenced Soto.
Soto earned 620 days credit toward his sentence while in jail. His parole date is set for October 2028, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.
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