A Vermilion County Jury on March 9, 2022, found Donald Langston, formerly of Hoopeston, Illinois guilty of six (6) counts of Home Invasion, a class X felony and two (2) counts of Aggravated Battery, Deadly Weapon, a class three (3) felony.
The Jury heard evidence that on February 7th, 2020 Donald Langston went to his estranged wife's new house armed with a bat and a bb gun, forced his way in and attacked her and her family. Langston struck his estranged wife in the head with the bat. Several victims who were in the home at the time of the home invasion and also suffered severe injuries to the head and body. Langston then chased his estranged wife out of her home and attacked her again, but fled as the police arrived.
Typically, a class X felony is punishable by six (6) to thirty (30) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with three years of mandatory supervised release. However, after a hearing, the Court could make certain findings based upon the facts in this case that would increase the penalty. Aggravated Battery, Deadly Weapon is punishable from two (2) to five (5) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Today, Langston was sentenced by Circuit Judge Charles Hall to twenty (20) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the counts of Home Invasion, which merged at sentencing. The Court made a finding of great bodily harm as to the charge of Home Invasion. Therefore, Langston must serve the twenty (20) year sentence at eighty-five percent (85%). Langston was also sentenced to five (5) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the counts of Aggravated Battery which merged at sentencing. The Court found severe bodily injury on the charge of Aggravated Battery and therefore the five (5) year sentence must be served consecutive to the Home Invasion sentence and is to be served at fifty percent (50%).
State's Attorney Jacqueline Lacy expressed her appreciativeness of the victims' courage in this case; including their prompt reporting of Langston's crimes and their remaining steadfast for over two years to obtain justice. The State's Attorney also thanked the Hoopeston Police Department.
