What started as a routine traffic stop for Pedro A. Vilchis of Aurora ended up as a high-speed car chase followed by a sentence of nine years in prison.
Vilchis was sentenced to a total of 9 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections after being found guilty in June of Attempt murder, Class X felony; Criminal damage to government-supported property, Class 3 felony (2 counts); Criminal damage to property, Class 4 felony (2 counts); Aggravated assault, Class 4 felony (3 counts); and Aggravated fleeing/eluding a peace officer, Class 4 felony (5 counts).
According to prosecutors, on August 12, 2022, deputies of the Kane County Sheriff’s Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Mazda driven by Vilchis for speeding and driving recklessly. When deputies attempted to effectuate that traffic stop, the defendant fled at a high rate of speed, at times in excess of 100 mph.
At three separate points during the police chase the defendant exited his lane of travel and went into oncoming traffic at speeds of 80 to 100 mph. Each of those times he directed his vehicle at police officers. In one of those instances the defendant drove his car head-on at a Kane County Sheriff’s deputy who was driving a marked squad vehicle with his emergency lights activated. In order to avoid a head on collision, the deputy had to drive off the roadway.
The defendant continued to flee until his vehicle was ultimately disabled and he was taken into custody.
“My thanks to the multiple law enforcement agencies that had to become involved in this pursuit for their outstanding work in keeping the public safe from Mr. Vilchis and his incredibly dangerous conduct,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Katy Flannagan. “What would have been a traffic stop for speeding turned into a pursuit that lasted more than 15 minutes, involved more than 20 police officers and changed the lives of everyone involved. I am thankful that no innocent civilians were injured and that all of the officers involved were able to go home to their loved ones unharmed.”
In accordance with Illinois law, Vilchis must serve least 85 percent of his 9-year sentence for attempted murder. Vilchis was given a 2-year sentence on the remaining counts, to run concurrently with the attempt murder count. He received credit for 713 days served in the Kane County jail.
