A Galesburg man will go to prison for his role in the shooting death of a Galesburg teenager in March 2016.
Circuit Judge Paul Mangieri sentenced Miguel Romo, 20, Thursday afternoon to 40-years in prison. A jury found Romo guilty in January of 1st degree murder, home invasion and residential burglary in connection with the death of 19-year-old Dakota Tinkham in his home.
It was revealed during Romo's trial that someone else shot and killed Tinkham, but the jury considered Romo accountable for Tinkham's death by being at the scene.
Romo must also pay around $9,600 in court fees and victim restitution.
Romo will receive credit for already serving about 14-months in the Knox County Jail, but he will not be eligible for early release. He must also be on mandatory supervised release for 3 years after his prison sentence ends.
Defense attorney, Scott Camin of Chicago, argued for a new trial for Romo prior to his sentencing.
Camin argued that the state's star witness previously testified that Romo was not at the scene and that the description a witness gave to police did not match Romo. Camin also said the police did not conduct a reasonable investigation and pointed out that several of the witnesses in the trial testified to receive lighter prison sentences.
Judge Mangieri denied the request.
Dakota Tinkham's mother, Jessica Yocum, read a five-page statement during the sentencing hearing. She talked about how Tinkham was her "buddy and best friend," describing him as a person determined to go to school and get a good job and who stayed in Galesburg to take care of his mother and sister.
Yocum said she was glad Romo's trial is over.
"I would have liked a lot longer [of a sentence], but he’s still going to be spending most of his life in there," Yocum said.
Yocum said she plans to attend hearings for the six other people charged in connection with her son's death. They are due in court next month for pre-trial hearings.
