A 17-year-old victim of a gang beating has been indicted by a McHenry County grand jury for lying during a juvenile court proceeding.
Jose Gabriel Valdez was indicted on one count of perjury for allegedly contradicting statements he gave police and prosecutors about a 16-year-old’s involvement in the July 25 beating of Valdez, said Assistant State’s Attorney Philip Prossnitz.
Valdez, of 802 W. Washington St., Harvard, faces a 2- to 5-year prison term if convicted of perjury, a Class Three felony.
The 16-year-old, a friend of Valdez’s, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery.
During a hearing on Feb. 11 to vacate the juvenile’s plea, Valdez said the juvenile was not involved with the beating, Prossnitz said.
“We believe the motivation was to assist the juvenile in vacating his plea,” Prossnitz said.
Three men–Valente Alonzo, 22, of Harvard; Armando Cazares, 20, of Woodstock; and John Alonzo, 19, of Woodstock–pleaded guilty in November to charges of mob action in connection with the beating of Valdez.
