McHenry County Blog

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

JURY FINDS MAN GUILTY OF ARMED ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED BATTERY

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that twenty-four year old Daniel Charneski, of Freeport, Illinois, was found guilty yesterday of the felony offenses of armed robbery and aggravated battery.

The trial testimony revealed that in the early morning hours of January 9, 2007, two masked men entered a twenty-four hour convenient store located on Berkshire Drive in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

One of the men was armed with a metal pipe.

After taking money and cigarettes, the assailant armed with a metal pipe repeatedly hit the cashier over the head and then fled into the night.

The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where twenty-six medical staples were used to close three separate lacerations to her scalp.

On March 27, 2007, the defendant confessed to participating in the robbery and striking the victim.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 9, 2011.

The defendant faces a sentence of between 6-30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the class X felony offense of armed robbery and a consecutive sentence of between 2-5 years for the class 3 felony offense of aggravated battery. The other participant in the armed robbery,

Stephen Waters was previously sentenced to 20 years in the penitentiary.

This case was investigated by Detective Will of the Crystal Lake Police Department and Detective Sergeant Synek of the Cary Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Ryan Blackney and Philip Hiscock.

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

MCHENRY MAN SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS FOR ARMED ROBBERY, HOME INVASION, ARMED VIOLENCE AND AGGRAVATED UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT CHARGES

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that thirty year old Vincent E. Smith, of McHenry, was sentenced today to 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offenses of

• Home Invasion
• Armed Robbery
• Armed Violence and
• two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint

The defendant was found guilty on all counts on February 14, 2011 following a four day jury trial.

Evidence at trial revealed that in the early morning hours of October 16, 2010, Vincent Smith and Josh Crandall entered a home in unincorporated McHenry.

Both defendants were masked, and witnesses described both as being armed with knives.

Crandall held up one man at knifepoint and stole $7,000 in one hundred dollar denominations.

Crandall cut the man’s throat and stabbed him in the sternum area.

Another man was stabbed three times outside of the home while the two masked men were exiting the home.

Both victims survived the attack.

At trial, four witnesses in the home were able to point to the defendant as one of the masked offenders.

Members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s deputies were able to determine the identity of the perpetrators and apprehended both Crandall and Smith on the date of the offense.

A search warrant of Smith’s residence yielded forty-two $100 bills found in his closet hidden in a DVD case.

Josh Crandall, following a partially negotiated plea, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on March 11, 2011.

These cases were investigated by Det. Maldonado of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Ryan Blackney and David Johnston.

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

CRYSTAL LAKE MAN SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING AND ATTEMPTED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT

Steven Hess

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Steven W. Hess, 57, of Crystal Lake, was sentenced to 19 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offenses of Aggravated Kidnapping and Attempted Criminal Sexual Assault. The defendant will be legally required to serve 85% of his sentence.

On December 9, 2009, the defendant confronted his ex-girlfriend, a 53 year old Crystal Lake woman, at her place of employment.

He was able to convince her to get into his car, whereupon he tied a rope around her neck, tied her wrists together with plastic zip ties and drove her to a vacant store where he served as a property manager.

The defendant attempted to force the victim into the basement of the vacant store by striking her with his fists and spraying her face with pepper spray.

Steven Hess

A bystander, who was driving in the area, shouted at the defendant allowing the victim to flee to a nearby business.

The police responded to the area, searched the basement and discovered a makeshift bed, pre-tied ropes, twist ties, knives and other items indicating that the defendant planned to commit a sexual assault.

The defendant was located the following morning after the car that he used to transport the victim was found burning in a field in unincorporated Woodstock.

The defendant later confessed that he intended to have sex with the victim and to post the assault on the internet.

This matter was investigated by Det. Houlihan, Det. Ford, Det. Nystrom and Det. Will of the Crystal Lake Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney.

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

ALGONQUIN MAN FOUND GUILTY BY JURY OF AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces today that Andrew Spanier, 58, of Algonquin, was found guilty Friday, April 29, 2011, of the offenses of

• Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault and
• Criminal Sexual Assault.

On October 9, 2009, the victim was at the defendant’s home for purposes of employment.

At the time, the defendant ran a cleaning business.

Prior to the victim leaving the defendant’s home to clean a residence, the defendant offered to give the victim a tour of his home.

When in the basement, the defendant threw the victim onto a bed, forcibly removed her clothing, and raped her.

The evidence at trial showed that within days the victim spoke about the rape with two of her friends, as well as reported the incident to her physician.

During the trial a recorded telephone conversation between the victim and the defendant was introduced into evidence where the defendant indicated

• that“he thought the resistance was not that strong”,
• that he felt “remorseful”,
• that “some animal instinct came over” him, and
• he offered to pay her $500.

The defendant testified, where he admitted to the sexual intercourse, but claimed it was consensual.

Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, the more serious charge, carries with it a sentencing range of 6 – 30 years where 85% of any sentence would have to be served, as well as lifetime sex offender registration. Sentencing is scheduled for June 29, 2011. This case was investigated by

• Sgt. Bucci,
• Det. Sgt. Lamz, and
• CSO Slabinski of the Algonquin Police department,

and was prosecuted by Ryan Blackney and Patrick Kenneally.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney sent this press release:

CRYSTAL LAKE MAN SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS FOR AGGRAVATED DUI CAUSING DEATH

Uri Herrera-Garcia

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces today that Uri C. Herrera-Garcia, 24, of Crystal Lake, was sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Death (Class 2 Felony).

In the early morning hours of October 25, 2009, Uri Herrera-Garcia drove a vehicle on Rte. 120 at Tijuana Drive in Lakemoor, Illinois.

He lost control of the car, drove off the roadway and collided with a tree.

A passenger in the vehicle, Leonardo Elias (d.o.b: 2/18/91), died from the injuries he received during this accident. Mr. Herrera-Garcia was found at the scene of the crash with blood on his face.

Later hospital toxicology testing, as well as police testing, revealed a blood alcohol level in Mr. Herrera-Garcia that was greater than 0.08. In addition, his DNA matched DNA found on the air bag of the crashed car.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia failed to show up in court and was later arrested on a warrant, at which time he admitted to Crystal Lake Police Officers to driving the car involved in the collision.

Mr. Herrera-Garcia will be required to serve 85% of his prison sentence before being eligible for parole.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney.

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

McHENRY MAN SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR ARMED ROBBERY

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that twenty-three year old Josh Crandall, of McHenry, was sentenced today to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of Armed Robbery, a Class X felony offense.

The defendant will be required to serve 85% of that sentence.

Josh Crandall had entered into a partially negotiated plea of guilty, wherein the State agreed to cap its sentencing recommendation at 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

In the early morning hours of October 16, 2010, Josh Crandall and Vincent Smith entered a residence located in unincorporated McHenry. Both defendants were masked, and witnesses described both as being armed with knives.

Crandall held up one man at knifepoint and stole $7,000 in one hundred dollar denominations.

Crandall cut the man’s throat and stabbed him in the sternum area.

Another man was stabbed three times outside of the home while the two masked men were exiting the home.

McHenry County Sheriff’s deputies were able to determine the identity of the perpetrators, and apprehend both Crandall and Smith on the date of the offense.

Search warrants of Smith’s residence yielded forty-two $100 bills found in a DVD case hidden in Smith’s closet.

On February 14, 2011, Vincent Smith was found guilty by a jury of the offenses of Armed Robbery, Home Invasion and Aggravated Unlawful Restraint for his involvement in this offense. Vincent Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2011.

This case was investigated by Det. Maldonado of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney.

That’s what the following press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney says:

CRYSTAL LAKE MAN SENTENCED TO TWENTY YEARS FOR HOME INVASION AND CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Robert J. Minerly, 35, was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offenses of Home Invasion and Criminal Sexual Assault, following a plea of guilty to those charges.

Defendant was sentenced to

• 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the class X felony offense of Home Invasion and
• 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the class 1 felony offense of Criminal Sexual Assault.

These sentences are consecutive under Illinois sentencing laws, bringing the total to 20 years.

On August 14, 2009, the defendant entered the victim’s room at the Crystal Lake Motel.

Once inside the room he climbed on top of the sleeping victim, placed a rope around her neck from behind, and began to choke her.

The victim struggled with the defendant and was eventually gagged with a sock.

The defendant sexually assaulted the victim and then fled the scene.

The defendant was linked to the crimes by the victim’s description of a Toyota baseball cap worn during the assault and by DNA evidence.

This matter was investigated by the Crystal Lake Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney.

Steven Hess when he was arrested.

A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office about the man who kidnapped a woman from Sam’s Club parking lot who was saved by a Good Samaritan near Taco Bell. Both establishments are on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

CRYSTAL LAKE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED KIDNAPPING

AND ATTEMPTED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Steven W. Hess, 57, plead guilty today to

• the Class X felony offense of Aggravated Kidnapping and
• the class 2 felony offense of Attempted Criminal Sexual Assault.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2011 and the defendant faces up to 30 years in prison and will be legally required to serve 85% of his sentence.

Photo of Steven W. Hess provided by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department.

On December 9, 2009, it was alleged that the defendant confronted his ex-girlfriend, a 53 year old Crystal Lake woman, at her place of employment.

He was able to convince her to get into his car, whereupon he tied a rope around her neck, tied her wrists together with plastic zip ties and drove her to a vacant store where he served as a property manager.

According to witnesses, the defendant attempted to force the victim into the basement of the vacant store by striking her with his fists and spraying her face with pepper spray.

A bystander, who was driving in the area, shouted at the defendant allowing the victim to flee to a nearby business.

The police responded to the area, searched the basement and discovered a makeshift bed, pre-tied ropes, twist ties, knives and other items indicating that the defendant planned to commit a sexual assault.

The defendant was located the following morning after the car that he used to transport the victim was found burning in a field in unincorporated Woodstock.

The defendant later confessed that he intended to have sex with the victim and to post the assault on the internet.

This matter was investigated by the Crystal Lake Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Ryan Blackney.

A press release from the State’s Attorney’s Office:

McHENRY MAN GUILTY OF ALL COUNTS IN HOME INVASION JURY TRIAL

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that thirty year old Vincent E. Smith, of McHenry, was found guilty today of

• Home Invasion,
• Armed Robbery,
• Armed Violence and
• two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Restraint

after a four day jury trial.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 1, 2011 and the defendant faces up to 30 years in prison.

Evidence at trial revealed that in the early morning hours of October 16, 2010, Vincent Smith and Josh Crandall entered a home in unincorporated McHenry.

Both defendants were masked, and witnesses described both as being armed with knives.

Crandall held up one man at knifepoint and stole $7,000 in one hundred dollar denominations.

Crandall superficially cut the man’s throat and stabbed him in the sternum area.

Another man was stabbed three times outside of the home while the two masked men were exiting the home.

Both victims survived the attack.

At trial, four witnesses in the home were able to point to the defendant as one of the masked men.

McHenry County Sheriff’s deputies were able to determine the identity of the perpetrators and apprehended both suspects on the date of the offense.

Search warrants of the defendant’s residence yielded forty-two $100 bills found in the defendant’s closet hidden in a DVD case.

Josh Crandall pled guilty on February 7, 2011 to Armed Robbery and Home Invasion, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2011.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Ryan Blackney and David Johnston.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi continues his campaign against drunk drivers, as is evidenced by the following press release:

WOODSTOCK WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED DUI

CAUSING DEATH

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Tania Cederholm, 35, of Woodstock, entered a plea of guilty to one count of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Death—a class 2 felony.

Location of the accident, east of Marengo

In the late evening hours of February 21, 2007, Tania Cederholm drove her vehicle northbound on Dunham Rd. At the intersection of 176 and Dunham, Cederholm’s vehicle entered into the intersection, pulling in front of an oncoming vehicle that was traveling eastbound and was being driven by David LeJeune of Rockford.

After striking Cederholm’s vehicle, Mr. LeJeune’s vehicle spun into the oncoming lane of westbound traffic and was struck by a third vehicle.

Mr. LeJeune later died due to the injuries he sustained. Other persons involved in the three car collision received non-life threatening injuries.

Ms. Cederholm’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was determined to be .246 based on a toxicology screen performed during her medical treatment. Ms. Cederholm had a prior DUI violation from 2004.

Ms. Cederholm’s next court date is February 10, 2011, where a date will be set for sentencing. This offense is probationable, and if prison is imposed, there is a range of 3 to 14 years in prison. Ms. Cederholm would be required to serve 85% of any prison sentence before being eligible for parole.

This case was investigated by Sgt. Karen Groves of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department, and was prosecuted by Phil Hiscock and Ryan Blackney of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.