An Aurora man who was convicted of joining in the beating of a Glen Ellyn man and his fiance near the Naperville Riverwalk last summer was sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in prison.
Abraham Zacatzi, 18, was one of four men charged in the July 22 beating of the man and the woman, who lived in Aurora. A DuPage County jury last month acquitted him of charges that he helped to assault the woman but convicted him of mob action and aggravated battery against the man.
According to authorities, the man and woman were walking at about 9 that night past four Aurora men, who whistled and made catcalls at the woman. When the Glen Ellyn man turned and began to question them, they assaulted him, according to trial testimony. The woman also was struck.
Anthony Coco, the DuPage County public defender representing Zacatzi, acknowledged that his client was at the scene but claimed Zacatzi never took part in the assault.
But Assistant State’s Atty. Justin Fitzsimmons said Zacatzi was involved with the group and that after the assault all four men fled together before being stopped by police several blocks away.
“People have a right not to be afraid of a band of thugs walking in DuPage County along places like the Riverwalk,” said Fitzsimmons, who sought a 3-year prison term for Zacatzi.
Coco asked for probation for his client, noting that Zacatzi had no previous criminal record.
But Circuit Judge Robert Anderson called the incident “a brutal, senseless, violent act” and said Zacatzi deserved prison time, for the assault and for comments he allegedly made to police.
When the group was arrested by several police officers, Zacatzi threatened the officers and their families, Fitzsimmons claimed.
Anderson did not allow that allegation to be introduced at trial but said he was taking it into account in sentencing.
Of the other three men charged in the incident, Francisco Mendez was sentenced to 4 years in prison, and his brother, Jorge, was sentenced to 6 months in DuPage County Jail. The fourth, Jesus Quintanilla, is awaiting trial.
The arrests of the men sparked protests from members of the Aurora Mexican community, who complained of unfair treatment toward the men by Naperville police. Naperville has denied that allegation.
Fitzsimmons said U.S. immigration authorities might send Zacatzi back to his native Mexico before his sentence ends because he is believed to be an illegal immigrant.
