ADDISON TEEN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED BATTERY WITH A FIREARM
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that one of two Addison teens charged with the 2007 Murder of 14 year-old Francisco J. Baiza, also of Addison, has entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Battery With A Firearm, a Class X Felony. Matthew C. Cruz, 16 (d.o.b. 08/02/1992) entered his plea in front of Judge Blanche Fawell this morning. In exchange for his guilty plea, previously filed charges of First Degree Murder were dismissed and Cruz will be sentenced to thirty years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, the maximum penalty allowable.
On August 21st, 2007, at approximately 3:50 p.m., Biaza was in the parking lot of the Green Meadows Shopping Center located at 110 W. Lake Street in Addison with a friend when he was approached by Cruz and his co-defendant Jhonny Aragon, 16 (d.o.b. 07/28/1992). After a brief verbal altercation, both Cruz and Aragon pulled and discharged handguns striking Biaza three times. An investigation by the Addison Police Department led to the apprehension of both Cruz and Aragon who were taken into custody a short time later without incident.
“This crime highlights the damage that gangs can inflict on society,” commented Birkett. “This senseless gang violence cost a young boy his life. Mr. Cruz will grow up in the pen. Hopefully, he will not return to the life that put him there. Young people and their parents have got to get the message that if you join a gang, you are bound for one of two destinations: the graveyard or the penitentiary. I would like to thank the Addison Police Department for their quick apprehension of Mr. Cruz and Mr. Aragon. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Knight for his extended efforts on this case.”
On January 9, 2009, Aragon entered a plea of guilty to one count of First Degree Murder and was sentenced to twenty-two years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
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