A Rogers Park man who allegedly attacked a 70-year-old woman without provocation as she waited for a bus has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Michael Colander, 56, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery of a senior citizen in July before Judge Ursula Walowski, according to court records.
Prosecutors said the victim was waiting for a bus in the 6900 block of North Ashland around 10 a.m. on November 28, 2020, when Colander approached her and told her to stop throwing rocks at his house. The woman, who had never met Colander, had no idea what he was talking about.
Suddenly, Colander struck the woman in the head and kicked her until she fell to the ground, an assistant state’s attorney said during his initial bail hearing. Once the woman was down, Colander continued to kick her and spilled coffee on her before he walked away, the prosecutors alleged. The entire attack was captured on video.
The woman received treatment for a cut on her nose, swelling and bruising on her face, and knee injuries.
In 2006, Colander was accused of beating his mother with a bottle but a judge found him not guilty by reason of insanity, officials said.
Walowski handed down his sentence and gave him credit for the 591 days he spent in custody after being arrested. The state reduced the sentence by 50% for good behavior, which allowed Colander to leave Stateville prison two days after he arrived, Illinois Department of Corrections records show.
Prosecutors dropped nine other aggravated battery counts in their plea deal with Walowski.
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