An Illinois woman has pleaded guilty to a home invasion charge related to a 2018 robbery and stabbing death of a teenager, Dohndre Hughes, but will avoid a lengthy prison sentence due to a plea deal.
The Crime and Plea Deal
On Monday, Katherine E. Smith, 26, admitted her involvement in the home invasion that led to Hughes’ tragic death. Smith had originally been charged with first-degree murder after the February 2018 stabbing.
However, a plea agreement reduced her charge to home invasion, and she was sentenced to 13 years in prison by Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Rudolph Braud.
Though her sentence may sound lengthy, several factors will likely result in Smith’s early release. Smith has already spent nearly 7.5 years in pretrial detention. Under Illinois law, she could be eligible for release after serving 6.5 years due to good behavior.
Details of the 2018 Incident
On February 23, 2018, Hughes, 19, was tragically killed in his Springfield home. Dayne Woods, 26, was found guilty of first-degree murder, home invasion, armed robbery, and theft. He was sentenced to 37 years in prison. Woods was the one who fatally stabbed Hughes after a confrontation inside the house.
Woods, along with his accomplice Mark D. Meszaros, 28, broke into the house using pepper spray and impersonating police officers. The two men, who were after cash and drugs, stole $600. Hughes confronted the intruders and was fatally stabbed in the chest.
Meszaros also pleaded guilty to armed robbery and home invasion in January and was sentenced to 30 years.
Smith’s Role in the Crime
Although Smith was not physically present during the attack, she provided Hughes’ address to Woods and Meszaros. Prosecutors did not argue that Smith knew a confrontation would occur or that Woods was armed, but they used the felony murder rule to charge her.
Smith’s defense attorney argued that she was coerced into helping because she had suffered domestic violence from Woods. Additionally, Smith’s transformation after her arrest played a role in her sentence.
Before her arrest, she had struggled academically, but after being released on bond in 2024, she became a straight-A student at Lincoln Land Community College.
Smith’s Admission and Sentencing
At her sentencing, Smith admitted that she was “a weak individual” at the time of the crime and acknowledged the mistakes she had made. She expressed regret and offered an apology to Hughes’ family, saying, “There will forever be a hole in my heart. I know it will never compare to what you have gone through.”
Judge Braud considered Smith’s lesser involvement in the crime and her significant personal changes since her arrest in 2018.
What Happens Next for Smith?
Smith will serve her 13-year sentence, but she will likely be released early due to time already served. Upon release, she will be under mandatory supervised release for 18 months and must also pay a civil judgment.
