From the State’s Attorney:
RUDY VILLARREAL SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR UNLAWFUL USE OF WEAPONS BY FELON AND RECKLESS DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM
On December 10, 2024, Rudy Villarreal, Jr., 51, of DeKalb, was sentenced to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Unlawful Use of Weapons by Felon and Reckless Discharge of a Firearm.
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Judge Mark. R. Gerhardt following a finding of guilt to both counts at the end of a two-day bench trial.
On May 27, 2023, Villarreal, a convicted murderer, went to the restaurant formerly known as La Placita – Café Botenera in downtown Marengo, IL.
Villarreal was armed with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.
While there, he encountered his wife who had an active Order of Protection against him.
An altercation ensued between Villarreal, his wife, and a woman that Villarreal was with outside the restaurant.
During the altercation, Villarreal brandished his firearm and shot it three times over his head and then immediately fled the area.
Several eyewitnesses, interviewed by the police on scene, positively identified Villarreal as the shooter during the bench trial.
Physical evidence presented included three 9 mm fired cartridge cases recovered from the walkway just outside of the restaurant.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese recognizes the hard work done by the Marengo Police Department in their thorough investigation into this case. This case was successfully prosecuted at trial by Assistant State’s Attorney Maria Marek and William Bruce.
