Teen Sentenced To 17 Years For Party Murder of Wheaton Man

Caption: Anthony Rios, 19, of West Chicago, pleaded guilty to one count of armed violence for his party in the death of 22-year-old Thomas Tecuatl, of Wheaton, IL, in November 2013.

A West Chicago teen was sentenced to 17 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the murder of a Wheaton man in November 2013.

Judge Daniel Guerin handed down the sentence Tuesday after Anthony Rios, 19, of West Chicago, pleaded guilty to one count of armed violence, a Class X felony, in the death of 22-year-old Thomas Tecuatl, of Wheaton.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 17, 2013, Rios and his pals, Jonathan Jimenez, 21, of Aurora, and Alejandro Martinez, 19, went to a party on Pomeroy Street near Route 59 in West Chicago, prosecutors said.

During the party, prosecutors said that a dispute occurred where Tecuatl allegedly pulled a knife. After Tecuatl left the party, he was chased by numerous partygoers, including Rios and his friends.

Some of the partygoers had armed themselves with items from the house, including a pick ax, a pipe, bricks and bottles, prosecutors said.

According to the charges, as Tecuatl attempted to flee, he slipped and fell on the wet pavement, dropping his knife. Co-defendant Jimenez allegedly grabbed the knife that Tecuatl had dropped and fatally stabbed him.

Prosecutors said the teens went back to the party after killing Tecuatl.

The next morning, a West Chicago resident contacted police after finding Tecuatl’s deceased body on his front lawn.

An investigation by West Chicago police, the Major Crimes Task Force and DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office eventually led to the teens’ arrests.

“This morning, Mr. Rios took responsibility for his role in the death of Thomas Tecuatl,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a written statement. “This is a tragic case and I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Thomas Tecuatl as they move on with their lives without Thomas.”

Rios will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He will receive credit for the time he has already spent in custody, the state’s attorney’s office said.

Jimenez, who’s been charged with one count of first-degree murder, is due back in court on March 9. He faces a possible term of up to natural life in prison.

Martinez has a March 10 court hearing. He’s been charged with six counts of first degree murder and one count of mob action. He faces up to 20 to 100 years in prison, if convicted.