Ariel Ginjauma Jr. — formerly of Hobart, now of Hillside, Illinois — on Monday received a 22-year sentence from Lake County Superior Court Judge Gina Jones.
“There were so many opportunities where you didn’t follow what you should be doing,” Jones told Ginjauma during his Monday sentencing hearing.
Ginjauma received a 12-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction for aggravated battery when the assault poses a substantial risk of death and a 10-year sentence for criminal confinement. The 10-year sentence will include two years in the Indiana Department of Correction, four years in Lake County Community Corrections and four years of probation.
“I never like to give a long probation, but it’s going to be a hard adjustment when you get out,” Jones said. “You have a plan for when you’re out, and I’d like to see it in action.”
Ginjauma’s sentences will run consecutively, Jones said, and he will have to partake in drug and alcohol counseling or Alcoholics Anonymous once per week while on probation.
As a teen, Ariel Ginjauma, then known as Ariel Gomez, was wrongfully convicted for a 32-year-old man’s death during celebrations for the 1997 Bulls’ championship win, according to Post-Tribune archives. Jones apologized for how the justice system failed Ariel Ginjauma, who served about 20 years in prison.
Ginjauma originally received 10 charges, including two counts of attempted murder, before taking a plea deal in his estranged wife’s shooting, according to online court records.
In October, Ginjauma filed a plea agreement after he was charged with shooting at his estranged wife Evelyn Ginjauma in November 2023, after she was acquitted that day of stabbing his business partner, Nancy Heino. Ariel Ginjauma filed for divorce less than one week before the shooting, according to Post-Tribune archives.
Deputy Prosecutor Infinity Westberg showed multiple videos from the incident, including doorbell camera footage showing Ariel Ginjauma kicking the door and yelling to be let in.
Once inside, Xfinity camera footage without audio showed Evelyn Ginjauma walk to the door with her daughter upstairs. Ariel Ginjauma is let in, goes after Evelyn Ginjauma with the gun, fires it and walks upstairs while she runs out.
Ariel Ginjauma then walks downstairs and out of the home, and his stepdaughter comes downstairs, upset and on the phone. Another outside video shows Evelyn Ginjauma scream and run down the street, with Ariel Ginjauma chasing her and firing the gun at her about five times.
“He’s going to kill us,” Evelyn Ginjauma yelled in another video. “Please help.”
Her daughter called 911 for help, and Hobart Police Department Detective Brandon Kissee said Monday that Ariel Ginjauma was arrested that day after a short pursuit with officers.
Nancy Heino, Ariel Ginjauma’s business partner who Evelyn Ginjauma was acquitted of stabbing, spoke on behalf of Ariel Ginjauma Monday.
“I want it to be known that this man saved my life,” Heino said. “He’s a good man.”
Heino also said that she believes that Evelyn Ginjauma “isn’t a good person,” also calling her “evil” and “jealous.” However, Heino also said Evelyn Ginjauma and her daughter didn’t deserve Ariel Ginjauma’s actions that day.
“He’s a good guy,” Heino said. “I just ask for mercy.”
Before Jones sentenced Ariel Ginjauma, Westberg said it was tone deaf for the defense to paint him as the victim, and she said the sentencing included “a lot of victim-blaming.” Westberg also said that Evelyn Ginjauma’s daughter was impacted, and she asked Jones to remember that there were two victims.
Westberg also believes that Ariel Ginjauma targeted Evelyn Ginjauma to try to gain full custody of their young son they share. Multiple letters called Ariel Ginjauma a good dad, including one from Evelyn Ginjauma.
Westberg said Ariel Ginjauma “can still be a good dad from prison.”
“There’s no doubt that the defendant is a good dad,” she said. “But he can’t use that boy as a sword and a shield. He tried to kill that boy’s mother.”
The prosecutor asked for Jones to sentence Ariel Ginjauma to the maximum 32 years on Monday. His attorney, Maryam Afshar-Stewart, told Jones that the maximum sentence is “completely contrary” to case law and state statute.
Afshar-Stewart said that Ariel Ginjauma owes no child support money for his son while incarcerated, and his imprisonment would cause undue hardship to his son, who would have to grow up without a father. She asked Jones to sentence him to 10 years concurrently, with two-and-a-half years in the Department of Correction, three-and-a-half in Lake County corrections and four years of probation.
Ariel Ginjauma also agreed to pay restitution and had two checks ready on Monday, Afshar-Stewart said.
Before he was sentenced, Ariel Ginjauma apologized to the court system, Evelyn Ginjauma and her daughter, saying he “failed everyone tremendously.”
At the time of the incident, Ariel Ginjauma said he was “in constant fear” of his wife, who allegedly threatened to take their son from him. Ariel Ginjauma also said that he self-medicated with drugs and alcohol during that time.
No matter his reasons, Ariel Ginjauma told Jones that there was no excuse for his actions.
“I promise I will not let you down,” Ariel Ginjauma told Jones. “You will see and hear from me again, but it won’t be in the courtroom. … I now understand the signs and symptoms that led to my actions.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
