Denied: Attempted murderer loses appeal of La Salle County case

A former Rockford man convicted of shooting at (and missing) a Streator police officer during an armed robbery has struck out on appeal.

William Webb, 56, asked the Third District Appellate Court to overturn his convictions and send him back to trial for attempted murder, armed robbery and aggravated discharge of a firearm. Webb argued he was unfairly denied a substitution of judge; but the appellate justices upheld his convictions.

Webb was charged in August 2016 after he held up Streator’s south side Circle K at gunpoint and after shooting at a Streator police officer as Webb tried to make his getaway. The officer was uninjured. At the time of holdup, Webb was on parole for a Winnebago County murder.

On appeal, Webb argued he was improperly denied his motion for substitution of judge. But in a Thursday ruling, Justice Daniel Schmidt, joined by two justices, made quick work of Webb’s appeal and upheld his convictions and 65-year sentence.

Webb is scheduled for parole in 2071, when he would be 106 years old.