A man from Aurora has been sentenced to nine years in prison for leading police on a dangerous high-speed chase during which he intentionally drove head-on at a Kane County deputy’s vehicle, officials announced on Thursday.
Pedro A. Vilchis, 24, was found guilty of attempted murder, two counts of criminal damage to government-supported property, two counts of criminal damage to property, three counts of aggravated assault and four counts of aggravated fleeing or eluding a peace officer, according to a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Officials said in the release he was sentenced to nine years in prison for the attempted murder charge and two years for the remaining counts, which will run alongside the attempted murder sentence.
The 713 days he spent in the Kane County jail will also count as time served towards his sentence, the news release said.
On Aug.12, 2022, Kane County Sheriff’s Department deputies tried to stop a silver Mazda driven by Vilchis for speeding and driving recklessly, officials said in the release. Instead of stopping, Vilchis fled at high rates of speed, at times in excess of 100 mph, according to the release.
At three separate times during the police chase, Vilchis exited his lane and went into oncoming traffic at speeds of 80 to 100 mph, each time pointing his car at vehicles driven by police officers, the release said.
During one of the times, Vilchis drove his car directly head-on at a Kane County Sheriff’s deputy’s marked squad car with its emergency lights activated, according to the release. Officials said the deputy had to drive off the road to avoid a collision.
Vilchis continued to flee until his vehicle was ultimately disabled and he was taken into custody, the release said.
Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Katy Flannagan said in the release that the chase lasted more than 15 minutes and involved more than 20 police officers.