Albaiaty accepts plea deal
By CARRIE FRILLMAN cfrillman@daily-chronicle.com
SYCAMORE – Karar Albaiaty stuck to his plea agreement with the state Thursday regarding armed robbery charges related to the 2005 murder of Frank Riccardi Jr., of Sycamore.
Albaiaty, 23, of Rockford, initially was charged in 2008 with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of armed robbery in connection with Riccardi’s death. He pleaded guilty Thursday to the armed robbery charge and was sentenced to 13 years in prison – more than double the six-year minimum and less than half of the 30-year maximum potential penalty for a Class X felony.
Police have said they believe that Eric Laskowski, 24, and Albaiaty met Riccardi near a Kirkland hayfield between midnight and 2 a.m. Oct. 7, 2005, to sell marijuana. Riccardi was robbed of $1,900 and was killed at or just after 2 a.m., police have said.
The original plea agreement between the state and Albaiaty was made in June. It required that he testify against Laskowski, who was scheduled to be on trial this month for murder.
After he did so truthfully, Albaiaty was to enter a guilty plea for the robbery charge, and all other charges against him would then be dismissed.
But Laskowski pleaded guilty in September to his role in Riccardi's death.
Though Albaiaty's testimony wasn't needed, the DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office upheld the agreement Thursday.
Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert said the sentence is based on the court's finding that Albaiaty caused Riccardi, "great bodily harm." He will be credited 534 days toward his 13 years for time he has already served in the Boone County Jail, said DeKalb County First State's Attorney Bill Engerman. Albaiaty must serve at least 85 percent of his full sentence as part of the agreement, he added.
Albaiaty is not a U.S. citizen, and he could be deported after his prison sentence is complete, Engerman said.
Albaiaty was arrested May 13, 2008, two-and-a-half years after charges were filed against his co-defendant. Police have said DNA and fingerprint evidence linked him to the crime scene.
The DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office has filed documents that are the first step in seeking an extended sentence – of 60 to 100 years – for Laskowski. The crime meets the law's requirement of "exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior" for extended sentencing, Engerman said.
Laskowski is next scheduled to be in court Nov. 19.
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