A Batavia woman has pleaded guilty to the 2012 stabbing death of her former boyfriend.

Latoya M. Baines, 27, formerly of the 1200 block of East Wilson Street, Batavia, today (May 7, 2015) agreed to a sentence of 25 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in exchange for a guilty plea to second-degree murder, a Class 1 felony,  and burglary, a Class 2 felony.

Second-degree murder reflects an unreasonable belief of a need to defend one’s self.

Circuit Judge Susan Clancy Boles accepted the plea.

Prosecutors presented evidence that early April 30, 2012, Baines and her boyfriend – the victim – 25-year-old Gerald J. Jackson of Chicago, were in a female friend’s apartment in the 1100 block of East Wilson Street, Batavia. Sometime after 1 a.m. Baines went to her own apartment for a short time. When Baines returned to the friend’s apartment she became angry, left the apartment, retrieved knives from her own apartment and returned to the friend’s apartment, where she confronted  Jackson. The confrontation spilled into a common hallway with Jackson following Baines down a stairwell. While on the stairs, Baines lunged at Jackson with the knife, stabbing him once in the chest. Jackson died a short time later.

In addition to the prison term, Baines will pay $11,450 restitution to the victim’s family, equal to the cost of the victim’s funeral.

The sentence is 20 years on the second-degree murder conviction and five years on the burglary conviction. The terms are to be served consecutively.

According to Illinois law, Baines is eligible for day-for-day sentencing. She receives credit for at least 1,103 days served in the Kane County jail, where she has been held since her arrest in lieu of $750,000 bail.

The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Mark D. Stajdohar and Christine Bayer.

SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release

Latoya Baines CREDIT: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release