ISAIAS BELTRAN SENTENCED TO 75 YEARS FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that Isaias Beltran, 20 (d.o.b. 5/28/1988) of Glendale Heights, was sentenced to 75 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the December 19, 2007 shooting death of thirty-five year-old Corey D. Krueger, also of Glendale Heights.  On August 26, after approximately seven hours of deliberations, a jury found Beltran guilty of First Degree Murder as well as Armed Robbery in front of Judge George Bakalis.

             In the early morning hours of December 19, 2007, Krueger was out walking his dog before going to work when he was approached by Beltran.  Upon confronting Mr. Krueger, Beltran demanded Krueger’s wallet and, after stealing his wallet, shot Krueger in the head from point blank range.  Beltran was taken into custody and charged a short time later.    

             “The senseless slaughter of Corey Krueger, an innocent man out walking his dog before going to work, is an outrageous example of the gang violence that is plaguing our state” commented Birkett.  “DuPage County and its citizens are grateful for work of the Glendale Heights Police Department and the Major Crimes Task Force for bringing Mr. Beltran to justice.  It is this kind of swift response that sends an appropriate message to anyone who thinks they can get away with this kind of violence.  I know the victim’s family and the citizens of DuPage County are grateful to Judge Bakalis for ensuring that Mr. Beltran will never commit an act of violence outside the penitentiary walls in our state.  I would like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Tom O’Connor and Mary Cronin and especially my Gang Unit Supervisor Steve Knight for their work in getting this dangerous man off the streets.” 

             In another case involving Isaias Beltran, the Second District Appellate Court of Illinois earlier this week affirmed a guilty finding of three counts of Aggravated Battery and one count of Resisting a Police Officer against Beltran stemming from a May, 2006 altercation with Glendale Heights police officers.  The Appellate Court’s decision was written by Justice McLaren with Justices Schostok and O’Malley concurring.

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