A 41-year-old Aurora man has been sentenced to 125 years in prison after being convicted of murdering a man while attempting to burglarize his apartment.
Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie L. Mosser announced today that Judge David Kliment has sentenced Michael E. James to a total of 125 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections after James was convicted in May on charges of First-Degree Murder, a Class S felony (9 counts); Armed Violence, a Class X felony; and Residential Burglary, a Class 1 felony.
According to prosecutors, on December 18, 2021, James and a co-defendant attempted a robbery of the victim’s apartment at 424 Clark Street in Aurora. During the robbery attempt, James shot and killed the victim, Edward Smith, Jr.
James was sentenced to 75 years in prison for the charge of First Degree Murder, for which he must serve the entire sentence. The sentence for Armed Violence, 35 years, is to be served consecutively to the Murder sentence, of which he is required to serve 85%. The 15-year sentence for Residential Burglary is also to be served consecutively to the Murder and Armed Violence sentences, of which he is required to serve 50%.
“This defendant and his co-conspirator picked an entirely innocent victim completely unknown to them and ended his life due to their own selfishness,” said Assistant State’s Attorney David Belshan. “Their plan did not work and Edward Smith paid the ultimate price for their actions. Thankfully, both this defendant and his co-defendant have now been held accountable and Edward Smith’s family now has the justice they deserve.”
