Man sentenced to 30 years for role in 2010 drug-related kidnapping

Online Staff Report

Aaron R. Clark, 26, was sentenced to a total of 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections Nov. 28. Clark received 20 years for the offense of aggravated kidnapping and 10 years for the offense of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping. Clark was found guilty Oct. 20 after a jury trial.

Nov. 10, 2010, Michael Johnson was riding around in a car with Patrick Brown. It had been brought to Johnson’s attention that a “hit” had been placed on him because of missing drugs. Unbeknownst to Johnson, Brown had arranged with co-defendant Juan Gilbert to meet to exchange Johnson in return for money.

Brown pulled into a gas station, where Juan Gilbert got into the car. Together, they drove to St. Edward’s Church parking lot, where the defendant and co-defendants, Alex Crossen and Sheldon Baxter, approached the car and dragged Johnson out of the car, placing him into a nearby van.

The defendant and co-defendants then drove to a residence on Seventh Avenue, where they were joined by co-defendants Justin Keenan and Joshua Huntley. Together, they took the defendant inside the residence, where they held him against his will, punching and kicking him in the face, ribs and legs.

After an extensive beating, the co-defendants drove the defendant to the back of LT’s Bar and dropped him off. Johnson went to the hospital and was treated for a broken nose as well as other injuries received from the beating.

Aggravated kidnapping is a X felony with a sentencing range of six to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections to be followed by three years of mandatory supervised release. Conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping is a class 1 felony with a sentencing range of four to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections to be followed by two years of mandatory supervised release. The sentences will be served concurrent and Truth and Sentencing mandates the defendant will serve 85 percent of his sentence. All other co-defendants are awaiting trial and are presumed innocent until proven otherwise.