A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney:

MCHENRY MAN RECEIVES 16 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR BURGLARY AND POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that forty-eight year old James R. Henson was sentenced to serve a period of 16 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for his conviction on the charges of burglary and possession of burglary tools.

The evidence showed that on May 31, 2014, Henson gained access to the Curran Construction lot located at 7502 S. Main St. in Crystal Lake by cutting through a section of chain link fence securing the property.

Once inside, Henson cut the locks off two MJ Electric trucks parked on the lot and removed buckets of high voltage brass electrical fittings.

Henson was caught with the stolen items near the crime scene when a citizen walking her dog heard clanking sounds coming from bushes nearby and called police because she thought an animal may be caught in a trap.

The noises turned out to be defendant James Henson sorting more valuable brass items from metals of lesser value, so he could carry a lighter load on his bicycle away from the crime scene.

The defendant was convicted after a jury trial in March 2015.

Evidence at sentencing showed the defendant’s 30 year history of repeated burglaries and other felony and misdemeanor offenses.

The trial and sentencing were prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys David Johnston and Robert Zalud.