An East Chicago man avoided prison Thursday in a plea deal for an ‘18 burglary.
Juan Rivera, 35, pleaded guilty in July to two counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, both level 5 felonies.
He was sentenced to an agreed term — four years in Lake County Community Corrections and 8 years probation.
In exchange, prosecutors dropped several charges that could have meant decades in prison — Level 1 felony burglary, Level 2 Felony robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, aggravated battery, residential entry, and a couple of misdemeanors.
Court documents alleged Rivera and co-defendant Joshua Ptak broke into an apartment on Aug. 15, 2018 on the 3600 block of Parrish Avenue in East Chicago, beat two men and took their cell phones.
One victim was knocked out with a traumatic brain injury.
Ptak is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 12.
