People v. Varela

Following a jury trial, the defendant, Ruben Varela, was convicted of two counts of aggravated battery and sentenced to concurrent terms of fours years’ imprisonment. The court also imposed a $25 fine. The defendant appeals.

The record reveals that on August 10, 1988, at about 8 p.m., Michael Coleman, the chief of police for the Village of Onarga, Illinois, was leaving Durham Park in Onarga to proceed home to change into his uniform for the late-night shift. As Coleman got into his truck, he noticed the defendant’s car rapidly passing him by and throwing gravel into the air. Coleman, believing…