According to Winnebago County court records, Soto faced numerous traffic violations over the past two years: from driving without a license, having no vehicle registration or insurance to excessive speed tickets.
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And at the time of Wednesday night's stabbing spree and vehicle attacks, Soto was also facing a felony charge for criminal damage to property, according to the Winnebago County State's Attorney J. Hanley.
"In 2022, [Soto] was charged with a class four felony, criminal damage to property," Hanley said during a news conference on Thursday. "[Soto] was alleged to have spun out his car on the Black Hawk Forest Preserve."
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That incident in the remote Black Hawk Forest Preserve off of S. Mulford Road, and not far from Soto's home, resulted in more than $2,000 in property damage which the court ordered Soto to pay restitution for, according to Winnebago County court records.
Records obtained by the ABC 7 I-Team show that Soto was required to pay that restitution by Thursday, March 28, and that the murder rampage occurred less than 24 hours before the money was due.
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Restitution that, according to court records, may have been transferred over from the bond he posted in that two-year-old felony case.
For law enforcement and the community of Rockford, whatever Soto's alleged motive, there is a hunger for answers.
Hanley said it's clear the public is wanting additional context as to why this crime occurred, but at this point of the investigation, answers are limited.
"[Soto's] saying that he smoked marijuana that may have been laced, and that's what he discussed," Hanley said. "There also seems to be a real consciousness of what he did, that he was conscious. So, I don't really have a good answer for that."
Soto's next court appearance is scheduled for April 2.