Drug dealer, sex offender, armed robber sentenced

Steven L. Rockwood: Dealing methamphetamine

DIXON – Steven L. Rockwood, 49, of Dixon, was sentenced July 9 in Lee County Court to 18 years for dealing 15 to 100 grams and for possessing 400 to 900 grams of methamphetamine.

One count of meth trafficking, one count of dealing 400 to 900 grams, one count of dealing 15 to 100 grams and two counts of possessing 15 to 100 grams were dismissed.

He received no credit for time served, and also must pay $48,000 in fines and fees.

His projected parole date is May 7, 2032; his projected sentence discharge date is May 7, 2035.

Miguel M. Garcia: Sexual assault

DIXON – Miguel M. Garcia, 24, of Dixon, arrested Aug. 28, pleaded guilty July 8 in Lee County Court to sexual assault of a person younger than 18 and was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

As part of a plea agreement, another count of sexual assault of a person younger than 18, as well as two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a person more than 5 years younger than he, were dismissed. He was given credit for 2 days served.

He must register as a sex offender.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, his projected parole date is June 18, 2027; his sentence discharge date is undetermined.

Orlando Gates: Armed robbery, vehicle theft

DIXON – Orlando Gates, 40, was sentenced July 9 in Lee County Court to 25 years for armed robbery without a firearm in a 2019 case and to 10 years for possession of stolen vehicle in a 2017 case.

Two counts of aggravated robbery and one of unlawful restraint were dismissed per the plea agreement.

He was given credit for 879 days served.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Gates’ projected parole date is Aug. 11, 2031; his projected sentence discharge date is Aug. 11, 2034.

Gates was one of four Chicago-area men charged with robbing the U.S. Cellular store at 166 Keul Road in Dixon at gunpoint on Feb. 11, 2019, and tying up employees while stealing merchandise and cash. (Gates pleaded guilty June 3 to indicating he had a firearm.)

They fled on Interstate 88 and were arrested 2 hours later in Aurora.

At the time, Gates also was on probation in the Lee County stolen vehicle case; the armed robbery was a violation of the terms of his release, and so he was resentenced to serve the 10 years.

Source: Lee County Court records