Maywood man sentenced to prison for June home invasion

Deon Duff, 43, receives 8-year sentence, to be served at 50%

A 43-year-old Maywood man who dragged a woman into her Lake in the Hills home in June and then led police on a high-speed chase was sentenced to prison Friday.

McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge sentenced Deon Duff to eight years in prison for home invasion and three years in prison for aggravated fleeing from police. Because the sentences will be served at the same time and Duff will receive day-for-day credit, he will serve a total of about four years in prison.

Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Duff to 10 years in prison, while Duff’s attorney, McHenry County Assistant Public Defender Richard Behof, argued for the minimum six-year sentence.

Given a chance to speak on his own behalf Friday, Duff apologized and asked the judge to sentence him “with leniency.”

“I do have five children at home that I’m trying to get back home to,” Duff said, adding that he is a “changed” person.

Duff’s arrest stemmed from June 26 reports that he dragged a woman into her Lake in the Hills home and beat her.

“He then, like a coward, fled at a high rate of speed from the police,” McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle Bruett said in court Friday.

Duff originally was charged with home invasion, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery, criminal trespass to a residence and aggravated fleeing police. The judge, however, dismissed several counts before closing arguments at Duff’s February trial were through.

Since prosecutors presented no evidence proving that Duff and the alleged victim were in a dating relationship, Coppedge dismissed both counts of domestic battery and aggravated domestic battery.

The judge also dismissed a count of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm since prosecutors failed to show that the alleged victim suffered broken or fractured ribs, as originally alleged.

The victim was not present for Duff’s trial or sentencing hearing, and prosecutors’ attempts to reach her have been unsuccessful, Bruett said in court.

At Friday’s sentencing hearing, Duff asked to be sent to Sheridan Correctional Center, where he would have access to educational courses and other programs to help him “better” himself.

Prison placements, however, are at the discretion of the Illinois Department of Corrections, not the sentencing judge.

Before the hearing concluded Friday, Coppedge said he was “impressed” to learn in a pre-sentence investigation report that Duff has been “a dutiful and attentive father” to his children.

“I have every confidence that you will resume being a responsible and attentive parent,” Coppedge said.