A Danville man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with a home invasion in which an elderly man was severely beaten. Circuit Judge Thomas O’Shaughnessy sentenced 28-year-old Cole J.R. Huber Monday afternoon to 25 years in prison for home invasion and five years for aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a person over 60. The judge ruled the sentences are to run consecutively. Huber’s last known address was on Green Acres Road, Danville.
The Judge cited Huber’s ‘’long history of violence and offenses related to substance abuse’’ prior to passing the sentence. The judge also noted that Huber was eligible for an extended term because he had caused great bodily harm to a person 60 years of age or older. The victim was 90 years old when he was assaulted.
Huber apologized in the courtroom Monday afternoon and told the judge that he was on heroin at the time of the offenses. Huber also said he is now trying to address his drug problem while serving time in an unrelated case in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He was sentenced to four years in prison in February after pleading guilty to possession of controlled substances.
Assistant Vermilion County State’s Attorney Lindsay VanFleet had asked Judge O’Shaughnessy to sentence Huber Monday to 50 years in prison for home invasion involving great bodily harm, and 5 years for aggravated battery. VanFleet reminded the judge of some of the testimony during the trial in which she said Huber had threatened to kill the 90-year-old victim if he left his room. But the defense attorney said Huber has already been trying to make himself a better person.