Joliet, Illinois – A 71-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend in 2021. Ben Rockett, of Joliet, pleaded guilty to Armed Habitual Criminal before Circuit Judge Carmen Goodman.

The incident occurred on the evening of March 30, 2021, when Rockett and his girlfriend, Sonja Underwood, had been drinking with friends at their residence. A physical altercation between the couple led to Rockett retrieving a gun from underneath his bed. During a struggle over the weapon, the gun went off, fatally injuring Underwood. Rockett, a convicted felon, did not possess a valid FOID card at the time of the shooting.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow emphasized the intersection between guns and domestic violence, stating that abusers with firearms are five times more likely to kill their female victims. He expressed that everyone has the right to live in safety and be free from violence and abuse.

Rockett’s sentence will be served at 85 percent, with credit for 980 days already served. Glasgow commended Assistant States Attorney Mark Fleszewski, as well as Victim Witness Advocates Elizabeth Ruiz and Jessica Gil for their work on the case.

The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence involving firearms. Rockett’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing reflect the legal consequences for individuals who unlawfully possess firearms and the impact of such actions on the lives of victims and their families.

In conclusion, Ben Rockett, 71, of Joliet, Illinois, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend in 2021. The case underscores the dangerous intersection of guns and domestic violence, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of firearm possession laws and greater awareness of the serious implications of domestic disputes involving firearms.