A McHenry County judge sentenced a 16-year-old Fox Lake boy Wednesday to 10 years in prison for a carjacking in Johnsburg.
Judge Ward S. Arnold sentenced Michael Burcham after the youth pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated vehicular kidnapping in connection with the Aug. 6 incident. Burcham may be able to serve his time in a juvenile facility.
As part of a plea negotiated with McHenry County prosecutors, Burcham will testify against co-defendant Joshua Hart of Yorkville if his case goes to trial.
“We think the 10-year sentence was fitting despite the defendant’s age,” said Assistant State’s Atty. James McAuliff. “The seriousness of the offense warranted the sentence.”
Burcham changed his not guilty plea to guilty because he faced a long sentence if convicted of another charge, aggravated kidnapping, his attorney, Donald Morrison, said.
“We felt it was in his best interests to admit his guilt (to the carjacking) and be out by the time he’s 21, and then lead a productive life after that,” Morrison said.
Burcham and Hart were indicted last month for carjacking, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, unlawful use of a weapon and felony theft.
The other charges were dropped against Burcham in exchange for the guilty plea to the carjacking.
Under Illinois law prosecutors could have transferred Burcham to adult court because of the seriousness of the charges.
After Burcham turns 17, a hearing will determine if he should stay in a juvenile facility or be moved to a prison, McAuliff said.
On Aug. 6, Hart and Burcham allegedly approached the 19-year-old victim at a gas station in Johnsburg and asked for a ride. When they were driving in Lake County, they ordered the driver out of the car and into the trunk at gunpoint, prosecutors said.
The man escaped in Gurnee after disassembling the trunk latch. Prosecutors said Hart and Burcham drove to LaSalle County and dumped the car in a lake.
They were arrested in Yorkville the next morning.
