21-year-old Jaylin Buckner of Oswego has been sentened to 3 years and 6 months in prison in the accidental death of Antonio Villarreal.
In May, Buckner had pleaded guilty to one count of Reckless Homicide and one count of Aggravated Unlawful Use of an Electronic Communication Device. Reckless Homicide is a class 3 felony where the Court can impose a maximum sentence of 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Charges were filed after a tragic crash on July 1, 2021. Buckner was speeding eastbound on Mill Road towards Lynx Lane in Oswego and struck Villarreal, a 32-year-old combat verteran who served overseas as a Staff Sargeant in the United States army, while he was in the crosswalk of Mill Road.
Villarreal was thrown violently into the air and was killed from the impact.
Police later determined that Buckner’s vehicle was traveling approximately 60 MPH in a J5 MPH zone prior to the crash and Buckner never applied the brakes. After analyzing Buckner’s phone, it was determined that he was actively using his phone for Snapchat immediately preceding the crash.
The Villarreal family read several heartfelt and emotional victim impact statements to Judge Pilmer during the sentencing phase about the loss of Antonio Villarreal. Villarreal is survived by his parents, siblings, and two children.
Weis expresses his condolences to the Villarreal Family.
“This country lost a true patriot and outstanding individual on July 1, 2021. The fact that someone can serve so courageously and return home to be killed in such a senseless, preventable way, is a tragedy beyond words. This tragedy could have been prevented. Let it serve as a reminder of the consequences of distracted driving. My deepest sympathies to the family of Antonio Villarreal.”
