In early December 2008 a man was stabbed to death in McHenry.

Today the man who did it was convicted.

Here is the State’s Attorney’s press release:

22 YEAR OLD MCHENRY MAN FOUND GUILTY

OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, reports that Defendant Victor Bandala-Martinez was convicted of the offense of First Degree Murder.

Bandala-Martinez was found guilty after a three day bench trial prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs and Chief of the Criminal Division, Philip Hiscock.

The evidence at trial showed that the defendant stabbed the victim, Yair Cabrera, in the heart with a sharp object. This occurred on December 14, 2008 in McHenry, Illinois.

The defendant then fled the scene and disposed of the murder weapon.

The defendant was later apprehended by the police while hiding in a closet in his home and was taken to the police station and interviewed.

The offense of First Degree Murder is punishable from between 20 and 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. There will be a sentencing hearing on August 12, 2010.