DePue Tragedy: Man Sentenced to Five Years
A jury-convicted defendant in the death of a toddler received the maximum prison term after a judge rejected arguments for mitigation.
By Marco Whitaker ·
Five years. That is the prison term handed down Wednesday to Anthony D. Rodriguez for his role in a rural DePue incident that claimed the life of a three-year-old child.
The Bureau County judge, Geno Caffarini, sentenced the 42-year-old Princeton man to the maximum allowable time for aggravated unlawful restraint. Rodriguez also faced convictions for misdemeanor assault and domestic battery. He stood in the courtroom to address the judge directly. He stated he was not in his right mind when he held the victims at knifepoint. He apologized for the events that unfolded.
Rodrigan’s defense attorney, Eric May, argued for a three-year sentence. May pointed to mitigating factors. He noted that Rodriguez’s prior criminal record was distant from the current case. He highlighted that most prior offenses were non-violent. May also cited multiple mental health disorders diagnosed during Rodriguez’s incarceration. The defense argued these conditions played a major role in the behavior during the restraint.
Prosecutors pushed for the full five years. Bureau County State’s Attorney Daniel Anderson emphasized the potential harm to the other victims. He cited the avoidable death of Damian Camacho, who was three. Anderson noted a 2003 conviction for attempted murder in Cook County. He stated there was no reason not to seek the maximum penalty.
Caffarini rejected the request for a mid-range sentence. The judge called the circumstances egregious. He cited evidence suggesting Rodriguez would not comply with court-imposed conditions. The judge noted disciplinary infractions during Rodriguez’s past prison term. He also pointed to incidents where Rodriguez refused to take psychotropic medication while awaiting trial in La Salle County Jail.
The incident occurred on Mother’s Day. Police responded to Rodriguez, who refused orders to release a woman and two children. Body camera footage captured the entire sequence. Caffarini reviewed a 17-minute segment of that video before issuing the ruling. Police opened fire after Rodriguez refused to release the captives. The gunfire struck and killed Camacho.
The judge concluded that compliance with standard conditions might have saved the child’s life. The sentence reflects that assessment. Rodriguez will serve five years behind bars.
