Aurora man gets prison in 2021 hammer attack

AURORA, Ill. - A man from suburban Aurora has pleaded guilty to attacking a person with a hammer in their home in 2021.

Johnathan T. McDonald, 23, was sentenced to 20 years in prison as part of his plea to an attempted first degree murder charge during a hearing Monday, Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser said in a statement.

Prosecutors said on Nov. 20, McDonald entered the person’s home, struck them in the head with a hammer, demanded money and then strangled them, prosecutors said.

The person, who knew McDonald, lost consciousness several times during the attack, prosecutors said.

Jonathan McDonald | Aurora police

"There was no clear motivation for Mr. McDonald’s heinous, violent and unprovoked attack," said Assistant State's Attorney Mark Stajdohar. "Their relationship before this brutal incident had been friendly."

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McDonald was given credit for 411 days spent in Kane County Jail and will be required to serve 85 percent of the prison term, where he has been held on $1 million bond since his arrest.