Man Convicted In 2019 Romeoville Murder Loses Appeal

ROMEOVILLE, IL — The Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, has affirmed the conviction and 56-year prison sentence of Dieontae Sparks in a fatal shooting in Romeoville in 2019, the Will County State's Attorney's Office announced.

Dieontae Sparks, who was 19 at the time of the murder in 2019, shot and killed Reginald Harris, 28, in March 2019, Patch reported at the time.

A Will County jury found Sparks guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery and unlawful possession of a weapon. The trial court imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of 56 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

On appeal, Sparks argued that his trial attorney was ineffective for failing to challenge firearm identification testimony and that his sentence violated the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution because of his age at the time of the offense, according to a news release from the State's Attorney's Office.

The Appellate Court has rejected both claims and affirmed the judgment of the Will County Circuit Court. The court found that the evidence supporting the conviction was overwhelming, including eyewitness testimony, text messages arranging the meeting that led to the robbery, DNA evidence placing Sparks inside the vehicle, and other corroborating physical evidence, the State's Attorney's Office said.

The court further held that Sparks’ constitutional sentencing
challenge could not be resolved on direct appeal.

"This decision reaffirms an important principle: those who willingly participate in violent felonies are accountable for the tragic consequences of their actions," said Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow. "The Appellate Court recognized the strength of the evidence presented at trial and upheld the jury’s verdict. Our office will continue to stand by the work of our prosecutors and defend convictions that seek justice and accountability under Illinois law."