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.