By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff Published: 8/28/2010 The attorney for a Chicago woman accused of neglecting a horse she kept in Crystal Lake said he may ask a judge to move the case from McHenry County because of erroneous pretrial publicity linking his client to another animal abuse case. County authorities confirmed Friday … Continued

By Josh Stockinger | Daily Herald Staff A reputed drug cartel member was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison for his role in the execution-style shooting of a California man left for dead in rural Kane County. Manuel Ramirez, 27, of Aurora, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm in the May 29, … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff A McHenry County judge Wednesday refused to throw out a nuisance charge against a Lakemoor woman using two old toilets and a bathroom sink as front yard planters, rejecting arguments the village was applying its rules too broadly. The decision by Judge Michael Caldwell moves Tina Asmus closer … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff January 22, 2010 A McHenry County judge refused to throw a Palatine man back in jail Thursday while he awaits trial on charges he ran a multimillion dollar pot growing ring, saying there is no evidence the $10,028 cash he put up as bond was earned illegally. The … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff Prosecutors dismissed the case today against a McHenry man accused of concealing the homicide of missing Johnsburg teen Brian Carrick, but said they are hopeful they’ll refile charges after further investigation. For now, though, Robert Render, 24, is free of a charge of concealing a homicidal death that … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff A 46-year-old Crystal Lake woman avoided a possible felony conviction, though perhaps not a father’s ire, by admitting in court Tuesday she pretended to be a 16-year-old girl’s legal guardian so the girl could get a belly piercing. Eileen P. Kozlowski, of the 600 block of Chardonnay Lane, … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff The McHenry County State’s Attorney does not have to pay a Fox Lake man’s legal costs for defending himself on an appeal ultimately determined to be without merit, a judge ruled Thursday. Judge Gordon Graham denied Alex W. Bobnic’s request for a $2,500 sanction against the prosecutor’s office, … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff A Palatine man accused of running a multimillion-dollar pot-growing operation inside several rented homes must explain how he came up with $10,000 bail to go free while awaiting trial, a McHenry County judge ruled Monday. Despite objections from Phillip Koeckritz’s defense, Judge Joseph Condon said county prosecutors have … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff A few weeks after swearing to a judge that he had no job, no money and no assets, a Palatine man accused of operating a multimillion-dollar marijuana-growing operation came up with $10,000 cash to make bail. Now McHenry County prosecutors are demanding Phillip Koeckritz come back to court … Continued

By Charles Keeshan | Daily Herald Staff A judge refused to lower bond Monday for a 35-year-old Palatine man a prosecutor said was the brains and money behind one of the largest indoor marijuana-growing operations in McHenry County history. Phillip J. Koeckritz remained locked up in the McHenry County jail on a $100,000 bond after … Continued