Amanda Coots sentenced to 10 years

Press Release from the office of McHenry County State's Attorney Lou Bianchi.

AMANDA COOTS SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR DRUG INDUCED HOMICIDE

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Amanda Coots of Wauconda was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for the offense of Drug Induced Homicide, a Class X Felony. A McHenry County jury previously found her guilty of the offense on April 14, 2010. At trial, prosecutors presented a videotaped police interview of the defendant. In that interview, the defendant admitted to giving heroin to the victim who subsequently lost consciousness. While the victim was visibly struggling to breathe, the defendant called a taxi cab and left the scene without calling 911. The victim died later that night. Coots faced a potential range of 6 to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for this offense. At the sentencing hearing, prosecutors argued for a sentence of 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and noted that the defendant had three prior felony convictions. Assistant State’s Attorneys Philip Hiscock and David Johnston prosecuted the case on behalf of the State’s Attorney’s Office.