McHenry County Blog

One for violating an Order of Protection, the other for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse. The Sheriff’s Department’s press releases follow:

Wonder Lake Man Arrested for Violating

Order of Protection Incident

Sheriff Keith Nygren announced today the arrest of an 18 year old man from Wonder Lake Illinois.

McHenry County Jail

Keith W. Rindt of 7404 MacArthur Drive in Wonder Lake was arrested on June 4, 2010 by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office for Violation of an Order of Protection, Resisting a Peace Officer, Aggravated Resisting of a Peace Officer, Unlawful Possession of Cannabis, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Keith W. Rindt

On June 4, 2010 members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to 7404 MacArthur Drive for an Unwanted Subject report. Through the course of the investigation it was determined that Keith W. Rindt had violated an active Order of Protection and then left the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies conducted a search of the area and located the subject in the area of East Wonder Lake Road and Birch Drive.

As Sheriff’s deputies approached and advised Rindt that he was going to be placed under arrest, Rindt refused to submit to arrest and actively resisted being placed into custody.

During the altercation one of the deputies sustained an injury to his ribs. The deputy was transported to Woodstock Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. The other Deputy and the subject were both treated and released at the scene by Wonder Lake Fire Protection District.

Keith W. Rindt is currently in the custody of the McHenry County Correctional Facility. Rindt’s next scheduled court date is June 11, 2010.

ARRESTED:
Keith W. Rindt, M/W DOB: 1/18/92
7404 MacArthur Drive
Wonder Lake, Illinois

CHARGES:
Violation of Order of Protection
Class A Misdemeanor

Unlawful Possession of Cannabis
Class C Misdemeanor

Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Class A Misdemeanor

Resisting a Peace Officer
Class A Misdemeanor

Aggravated Resisting a Peace Officer
Class 4 Felony

Bond: $10,000

Registered Sexual Predator arrested for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse

June 7, 2010

William A. Below

Sheriff Keith Nygren announced today the arrest of a registered sexual predator, 23 year old William A. Below, of unincorporated Wonder Lake.

Below was arrested for the offense of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse stemming from an incident that occurred on or about May 21, 2010 in unincorporated Wonder Lake.

McHenry County Jail

McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested Below as a result of the information obtained during the investigation of alleged sexual abuse of a juvenile household family member of William A. Below.

William A. Below is currently being held in the McHenry County Correctional Facility, and his bond has been set at $750,000.

ARRESTEE:
William A. Below, 23 years old
8920 Woody Trail
Wonder Lake, Illinois

CHARGE:
Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse
Class 2 Felony

BOND:
$750,000

Next Court Date:
June 11, 2010 at 9:00 A.M.

Sheriff Keith Nygren

The charges against the above listed defendant are merely allegations against him. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

With the resignation of Huntley School District 158 Board President Shawn Green, the remaining members are seeking applicants to replace him.Applications are due by March 18th.  Below is the notice that has been distributed:

Notice of Board Member Vacancy

03.05.10

Shawn Green chairing a board meeting.

At the Committee of the Whole March 4, 2010 meeting, the Board of Education of Consolidated School District 158 of McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois received the resignation of Mr. Shawn Green, Board President. Mr. Green has served the District as a Board Member since April 2005.

Interested parties of becoming a board member, should submit their resume and letter of interest to: Naomi Fettes, Executive Assistant and Board Operations, Consolidated School District 158, 650 Academic Drive, Algonquin, Illinois 60102.

Deadline for submission by close of business day before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2010 Requirements (as per Policy 2:40) in the volunteer position are listed below:

• Letter of Interest addressed to: Naomi Fettes, Executive Assistant and Board Operations
• Proof of Citizenship
• Proof of Residency as resident of CSD158 and Illinois for at least a year
• Proof of Voter’s Registration, for either McHenry or Kane Counties, Illinois
• Resume and three Letters of Reference
• Verification of at least 18 years of age

Contact the Superintendent’s office at (847) 659-6103 or via email at nfettes@district158.org for further information.

The Board will review the resumes, that will be made public, and discuss the next step at the March 18, 2010 regular Board meeting.

Policy 2:40

A Board of Education member must be, on the date of election or appointment, a United States citizen at least 18 years of age, a resident of Illinois and the District for at least one year immediately preceding the election, and a registered voter.

Reasons making an individual ineligible for Board of Education membership include holding an incompatible office and certain types of State or federal employment. A child sex offender, as defined in State law, is ineligible for School Board membership.

LEGAL REF.: Ill. Constitution, Art. 2, ¶ 1; Art 4, ¶ 2(e); Art 6, ¶ 13(b).
105 ILCS 5/10-3 and 5/10-10.

Strangely enough, the board policy, seen below, does not require letters of recommendations:

Consolidated School District 158 2:70
Page 1 of 1

Board of Education
Vacancies on Board of Education – Filling Vacancies
Vacancy

Elective office of a Board of Education member becomes vacant before the term’s expiration when any of the following occurs:

1. Death of the incumbent;
2. Resignation in writing filed with the Secretary of the Board of Education;
3. Legal disability of the incumbent;
4. Conviction of a felony, bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime or of any offense involving a violation of official oath or of a violent crime against a child;
5. Removal from office;
6. The decision of a competent tribunal declaring his or her election void;
7. Ceasing to meet the residential requirements contained in The School Code;
8. An illegal conflict of interest; or
9. Acceptance of a second public office that is incompatible with Board of Education membership.

Filling Vacancies

Whenever a vacancy occurs, the remaining members shall notify the Regional Superintendent of Schools of that vacancy within 5 days after its occurrence and shall fill the vacancy until the next regular Board of Education election, at which election a successor shall be elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. However, if the vacancy occurs with less than 868 days remaining in the term, the person so appointed shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term, and no election to fill the vacancy shall be held. Members appointed by the remaining members of the Board to fill vacancies shall meet any residential requirements as specified in The School Code. The Board shall fill the vacancy within 45 days after it occurred by a public vote at a meeting of the Board.

Immediately following a vacancy on the Board of Education, the Board will publicize it and accept résumés from District residents who are interested in filling the vacancy. After reviewing the applications, the Board may invite the prospective candidates for personal interviews (emphasis added).

LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/10-10 and 5/10-11.
CROSS REF.: 2:40 (Board Member Qualifications), 2:60 (Board Member Removal From Office)
ADOPTED: May 17, 2001

WMAQ-TV ran pictures of Crystal Lake Police Cars at City Hall in its Thursday night story about the proble of Prairie Ridge High School's wrestling hazing.

Reading between the lines of the following press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department, but not too much, led me to the use of the words “sexual molestation” in the headline. See if you agree.

On Thursday, January 28, 2010 the Crystal Lake Police Department was notified by Prairie Ridge High School Staff, regarding their investigation of an anonymous report of possible hazing involving a number of students who are members of the school’s wrestling team.

School District Officials related that they had received an anonymous letter alleging a wrestler was held down by other wrestlers, who then slapped him numerous times on his stomach causing minor injury.

Prairie Ridge School staff, acting on information received in this anonymous letter, conducted their own preliminary investigation to determine the validity of the allegations.

Upon learning through their investigation that certain acts suggested that students engaged in activities that may include criminal conduct, Police were notified.

Since notification, the Crystal Lake Police Department Investigations Division has been conducting interviews at the school to determine the extent of any possible criminal activity.

Crystal Lake Investigators have interviewed over 60 of the student wrestlers which make up the Prairie Ridge wrestling team.

Investigators are also in the process of conducting formal interviews with the teams coaching staff.

The investigation has revealed that a number of wrestlers may have been involved in activities that include the restraining of wrestlers by other members of the team who then slap them on the stomach.

Additionally, police are investigating alleged actions on the part of some members of the wrestling team that may have included certain parts of the restrained wrestlers’ private areas being touched through their clothing.

This investigation continues and the police department has consulted the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office who will review the entire investigation upon its completion. No charges have been filed as of this time.

For further information, contact Chief David Linder at 815-356-3714.

I asked Chief Linder if juveniles are put on the lifetime sex offender list. They are not unless found guilty as an adult.

= = = = =
See also the letter posted on the Prairie Ridge High School web site this morning and the press release issued later.

= = = = =
March 6, 2010, update on arrests.

The following press release was received from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

There’s an interesting twist to this case. The man was in prison for bank robbery and went to his niece, now in her 20′s, after getting out to ask for forgiveness.

FORMER WOODSTOCK MAN FOUND GUILTY OF
AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE OF HIS NIECE

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Defendant Christopher Huinker was found guilty of three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse by the Honorable Judge Sharon L. Prather following a three day bench trial.

Between October 1995 and December 1998, Huinker, a former Woodstock resident, knowingly committed several acts of sexual conduct with his niece who was under thirteen years of age.

Defendant Huinker, following his incarceration for a 1998 bank robbery in Belvidere, IL, returned to McHenry, spoke with the victim privately, and asked her to forgive him for sexually abusing her.

The apology prompted the victim to disclose the abuse to her counselor.  An investigation and charges followed.

The case was prosecuted for the State by Assistant State’s Attorneys Ryan Blackney and Jeff Bora.  The defendant will be sentenced on March 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Never let it be said that McHenry County’s State Representative Jack Franks (D-Marengo) doesn’t have a good eye for what will attract media attention.

Think of his four-year fight to get cheaper prescription drugs for seniors.

Think of his many attacks on and early call for Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment after Franks’ initial attempt to get relatives and supporters appointed to various positions and Blagojevich’s release thereafter of that memo and a letter of support for licensing the Crystal Lake Mercy Hospital when the Stuart Levine scandal broke.

Now Franks has decided to take on another story with “legs,” as the media folks would say:

Pat Quinn’s botching of early release of prisoners

How many legs?

I think it dooms Quinn’s election chances in the fall, if not the primary.

Here are a week’s Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune editorials on the subject (click to enlarge).

And, take a look at what is on page 2 of the Chicago Sun-Times today.  Obviously there is plenty of potential publicity out there.

Jack doesn’t talk to me anymore at anything but public events, so let me offer my advice here.

Mruder-Related Convicts Released Early

Call Bill Bradly as your first witness.According to a WBBM-Radio story yesterday, the Republican state senator and candidate for the Republican Party nomination for governor has first-hand information from the Department of Corrections Director that Quinn made the decision about early release.

By putting Brady first, you would be providing some cover to what might be the real reason for your interest in this issue, getting State Comptroller Dan Hynes. (Pardon me if I think you are supporting him based on nothing more than the signs for Hynes that appear heavily in the Marengo area in his previous runs for office. If you are supporting Quinn, I would be happy to relay that information to McHenry County Blog readers.)

From the photos of “murder-related convicts released early” found on page 3 of today’s Sun-Times, there is a lot of potential.

At some point, someone might also want to look at sex offenders who were nnot released early under Governor George Ryan. Sometime after the Democrats took control, they started getting to use their “good time” to get out earlier.

Already Hynes is running his version of the Willie Horton ad on TV.

Hostile hearings chaired by Franks would have a re-enforcing effect.

Here’s a press release that just arrived from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

McHENRY COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 280 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ENTICING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY

CHICAGO – A McHenry County man was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison for enticing a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity after he lured her to meet him at a park in Carol Stream in 2007, federal law enforcement officials announced today.

Marcus Tyms, 25, formerly of Union, Ill., was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison, with 10 years of that sentence being imposed because Tyms was a registered sex-offender when he committed the crime.

Tyms was sentenced July 2 by U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur in Federal Court in Chicago, said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

According to court documents, in September 2007, just hours after he re-registered as a sex-offender for a 2005 conviction for indecent solicitation of a child, Tyms was arrested after he met the victim at a park intending to have sex, hit her when she had last-minute doubts, and abandoned her when observed by Carol Stream police who arrested him.

Tyms had met the victim on an online chat service and was in contact with her for approximately three months leading up to their meeting and his arrest, and he had induced her to exchange sexually explicit photographs in the days just before then.

Tyms was indicted in July 2008 for producing child pornography and transferring obscene matter to a minor, in addition to the enticement count, to which he pleaded guilty last December. Judge Shadur

• sentenced Tyms to 160 months on the enticement count and
• imposed a mandatory consecutive 10-year prison term for committing the crime while being a registered sex-offender.
• He also imposed five years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Carol Stream Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, which initially brought charges, later referred the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution.

The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Lee and Julie Ruder.

There’s a new member of the Illinois Sex Offender List living in McHenry County, according to the Rockford Register-Star.

“Mark Campobello, the former Catholic priest who was in prison for four years for sexual abuse of two teenage girls, has been living in McHenry County since he was paroled last week,” is the way the article by Geri Nikolai starts.

If you are interested in reading more, there are additional details in the article.

He was found guilty of

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEX ABUSE/VICTIM 13-16
AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE/VICTIM 13-16 (2 Counts)

in Kane County.

Information about Campobello can be found at the Illinois Sex Offender Information web site. Just type in his name.

His actions cost the Catholic Church $2.2 million, according to previous reports.

If you are interested in where the registered sex offenders live in your zip code, just enter it in the appropriate box.

There’s a new member of the Illinois Sex Offender List living in McHenry County, according to the Rockford Register-Star.

“Mark Campobello, the former Catholic priest who was in prison for four years for sexual abuse of two teenage girls, has been living in McHenry County since he was paroled last week,” is the way the article by Geri Nikolai starts.

If you are interested in reading more, there are additional details in the article.

He was found guilty of

AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEX ABUSE/VICTIM 13-16
AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL SEXUAL ABUSE/VICTIM 13-16 (2 Counts)

in Kane County.

Information about Campobello can be found at the Illinois Sex Offender Information web site. Just type in his name.

His actions cost the Catholic Church $2.2 million, according to previous reports.

If you are interested in where the registered sex offenders live in your zip code, just enter it in the appropriate box.