A Kewanee woman appeared to be in shock after hearing the Judge say she was sentenced to prison for the aggravated battery of two Kewanee Police Officers. Erika Becerril, 30, pleaded guilty to three of four counts in an open plea on November 16, 2023. She pleaded guilty to two counts of Aggravated Battery to a Police Officer and Domestic Battery and a sentencing hearing was scheduled for January 4, 2024. The Sentencing Hearing began with the Defense requesting a continuance but Judge Colby Hathaway denied the request. Judge Hathaway sentenced Ms. Becerril to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for each count of Aggravated Battery to Peace Officers, the sentences run concurrent to each other, followed by one year of Mandatory Supervised Release, credit for seven days served, plus fines and assessments. Judge Hathaway sentenced Becerril to 364 days in the Henry County Jail for Domestic Battery, fines plus assessments, and the sentence is merged with the IDOC sentence. The resisting arrest charge was dismissed as part of the open plea agreement. Defense Attorney Thurman requested an immediate motion to reconsider and give his client 10 days to get her affairs in order before beginning the IDOC sentence. The state disagreed with the request because Ms. Becerril had known about the sentencing hearing since November and knew that prison was a possible outcome. Judge Hathaway denied the request and ordered Becerril remanded into custody.
Becerril’s sister called the Kewanee Police to perform a welfare check at Bercerril’s residence on March 29, 2023. Officer Paulson arrived at the residence and heard what sounded like someone throwing up and, because there were children in the residence at the time, he entered the residence. Ms. Becerril struck her sister twice and resisted Officer Paulson when he attempted to separate the sisters. Officer Bryner arrived on the scene to assist and was head-butted by Becerril, breaking his glasses, and spat on by Becerril. Becerril was originally charged with two (2) counts of Aggravated Battery/Peace Officer (Class 2 Felony), Resisting (Class A Misdemeanor), and Domestic Battery (Class A Misdemeanor).
