Aurora Man Who Attacked Bystander On Porch Sentenced To 9 Years

AURORA, IL — An Aurora man will serve 9 years in jail for an attack in which he caused "significant facial injuries" to a bystander he passed while he was running after his girlfriend. Police say Sweed A. Strickland, 38, of the first block of North Loucks Street, pleaded guilty to a felony aggravated battery charge in connection with the July 2018 incident.

According to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, Strickland was chasing his girlfriend down New York Street on July 24, 2018, when he passed two people described as "bystanders." Police say Strickland attacked one of the bystanders, a man over 60 years old, "unprovoked" as the man sat on his front porch.

Strickland reportedly punched the man in the face repeatedly, fracturing the man's nose an severing an artery to the man's eye. Strickland was later identified by the man's neighbors and taken into custody.

Strickland, who was convicted of aggravated battery with a firearm in 1999 and aggravated battery to a peace officer in 2016, was eligible for enhanced sentencing due to his criminal record. He must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, but he will get credit for 387 days spent in the Kane County Jail since is arrest in 2018.