On Sunday, a Kane County judge resentenced Christopher Carrillo to six years in state prison after finding he violated the probation he was given for a 2019 hit-and-run that killed 8-year-old Izaiah Lopez in Aurora. Prosecutors and the Lopez family had urged the court to send Carrillo to prison, pointing to what they described as a pattern of noncompliance and new allegations while he was on probation.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Kane County Judge David Kliment imposed the six-year term after prosecutors argued that Carrillo repeatedly flouted the terms of his sentence. Assistant State's Attorney Ryan Merkel had asked for an eight-year term, and the Tribune reports that Kliment told the court that extending probation would be "a miscarriage of justice."
Crash And Original Plea
The 2019 crash that killed Izaiah Lopez happened as he and family members were crossing Lake Street near Plum Street. Reports at the time said the vehicle involved was a 2007 Ford Fusion. Carrillo pleaded guilty in 2022 to leaving the scene and to driving on a revoked license and was originally given four years of probation, 480 hours of community service, and credit for time served, according to the Daily Herald.
What The Court Heard This Week
Court testimony and probation reports, as detailed by the Chicago Tribune, showed that Carrillo completed only about 30 hours of his required community service, did not complete an alcohol-and-drug evaluation, and provided no proof of continued treatment for PTSD and anxiety.
The Tribune also reported that Carrillo has been accused in separate incidents since his 2022 plea. Those include an October 2024 retail theft allegation in which police say more than $2,000 worth of items were involved at a Dollar General, and a March 2025 accident in Aurora in which he was accused of crossing the center line and striking a moving vehicle and a parked car.
Izaiah's mother, Karina Lopez, told the Tribune, "Christopher truly thinks about what he's done, changes his life and learns that driving is a privilege, not a right," and later added, "I feel like I can finally breathe." Kane County victim advocate Linda Hagemann and Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists representative Carrie Kilpatrick attended the hearing to support the family.
Next Steps And Public Records
Carrillo was ordered to serve six years in state prison. The court did not immediately announce a date for him to begin serving that term. Members of the public can check case status and court records through the Kane County court system and the Kane County Judicial Center. For information on victim resources and docket access, see the Kane County Judicial Center.
Why It Matters For Aurora
The resentencing closes a chapter for the Lopez family while underscoring how probation failures and new allegations can change the outcome of plea deals in fatal crash cases. For Aurora residents, the case serves as a stark reminder of the stakes of leaving a crash scene and of the legal consequences when probation terms are not met.
