Aurora Man Learns Sentence For Fatally Shooting Man During Attempted Robbery: Kane County SA

AURORA, IL — An Aurora man found guilty of fatally shooting a man during an attempted robbery in December 2021 was sentenced to 125 years in prison, the Kane County State's Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

A jury convicted Michael E. James, 41, on May 20 of nine counts of first-degree murder, one count of armed violence and one count of residential burglary.

James' co-defendant, Yecenia Granados, 35, of Aurora, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated battery with a weapon as part of an agreement for her testimony against James in exchange for her charges of first-degree murder to be dropped, according to a report from the Daily Herald.

Prosecutors David Belshan, Katy Flannagan and Tyler Cox shared in court that on Dec. 18, 2021, James and Granados went to 424 Clark St. with plans to commit a robbery. The two went to the apartment of Edward Smith Jr., 37, to attempt to rob him, but after he and James got into a physical struggle, James fatally shot him.

Aurora police got a 911 call about the incident just after 3 a.m. Dec. 18 and found Smith suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to Rush Copley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after 9 a.m., Patch reported.

James was sentenced to 75 years for the first-degree murder charge, which he must serve in its entirety; 35 years for the armed violence charge, of which 85 percent must be served; and 15 years for the residential burglary, of which he must serve 50 percent. The three terms are consecutive, officials said.

James received credit for the 1,189 days served in the Kane County jail.

"This defendant and his co-conspirator picked an entirely innocent victim completely unknown to them and ended his life due to their own selfishness," Belshan said in a statement. "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."