Orr gets 100 years for Duarte murder
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By Dustin Lemmon | Wednesday, March 26, 2008 |
Willie Orr showed no remorse for the December 2005 killing of Juan Duarte, and has a history of committing crimes that steadily grew more serious, a judge found Tuesday before sentencing Orr to 100 years in prison.
Orr, 27, was convicted by a Rock Island County jury in January of first-degree murder for the Dec. 17, 2005, shooting of Duarte, 24, in Rock Island.
Judge Walter Braud acknowledged 100 years seemed excessive, but said he’s not sure Orr can be rehabilitated and questioned whether he would still be a danger to the public in 25 to
30 years.
“I’ll be absolutely sure you’re not back on the street because the sentence is 100 years,” the judge said.
Duarte’s mother, Roxann Duarte, cried after hearing the verdict.
Braud agreed with the prosecution’s assessment that Orr, who committed his first crime at 15, was committing more serious felonies before the murder. He was convicted in 2003 of residential burglary and had a long list of convictions for theft and drug possession.
He also said Orr concentrated on finding loopholes in the judicial system and accusing police and prosecutors of being unfair, instead of expressing remorse.
According to court testimony, Orr shot Duarte after trying to purchase marijuana from him. Braud said Orr took the drugs and partied that night at his girlfriend’s house after going back to make sure Duarte was dead.
Duarte’s body was found in the 2500 block of 8½ Avenue.
After hearing the verdict, Orr expressed regret and apologized to Duarte’s family. He blamed his “rough” upbringing and bad role models for his poor
decisions.
“I didn’t want to be like this,” he said. “It was just something that was put on me.”
Orr said he had enrolled at Black Hawk College Technology Center on 11th Street in Rock Island two weeks before Duarte’s murder in hopes of bettering his life. He had custody of one of his two daughters and was trying to find a job after having only worked 14 documented days in his life.
“I was trying to change, I wanted to change,” he said. “I just got caught up in an unfortunate situation.”
Roxann Duarte said the pain of losing her son seems to be getting more difficult to deal with. She asked the judge to make an example of Orr with a lengthy sentence.
“Maybe some day dealing with the pain will be easier,” she said. “So far it feels worse.”
Duarte and her husband have been raising her son’s three children.
“There are some days I have to stay strong and keep from breaking down in front of them,” she said.
Orr and his attorney, Aaron Dyer, asked the court for the minimum 20-year sentence. Dyer argued that Orr did not intend to kill Duarte when he went to purchase the drugs and was trying to improve his life before the shooting.
Orr could have faced 40 years in prison under a plea agreement signed in November 2006, but two months later he withdrew his plea.
Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.
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