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February 8, 2026
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Belvidere Man Receives 36-Year Prison Sentence for Sexual Assault in McHenry County: A 59-year-old Belvidere resident, Jesus Zepeda, was sentenced to 36 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a minor in McHenry County. Authorities reported that the offenses occurred over a two-year period, with Zepeda taking the victim to different parks and using coercive tactics to silence her. Evidence presented in court showed repeated incidents in a vehicle and attempts to discourage disclosure through gifts. The case came to light when the victim informed a family member, leading to police involvement. (Source: Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Feb 8)
December 12, 2025
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Belvidere Man Convicted of Child Sexual Assault in McHenry County: A 58-year-old man from Belvidere has been convicted in McHenry County of sexually assaulting a minor over a two-year period. The jury found him guilty after evidence showed he assaulted the child on several occasions in local parks and attempted to prevent disclosure by offering gifts and using coercion. The crimes were uncovered when the child reported the incidents to a family member, prompting an immediate police investigation. The abuse reportedly occurred between September 2021 and September 2023. (Source: Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Dec 12)
November 24, 2025
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Driver from Round Lake Beach Identified in Fatal Train-Truck Collision in Elgin: Authorities have identified a Round Lake Beach man as the driver who died after a freight train collided with his landscaping company's truck in Elgin on October 23. The crash occurred at a State Street railroad crossing north of Locust Street at about 6:30 a.m., resulting in the driver's death at the scene and injuries to two truck passengers, both of whom were hospitalized. The vehicle, a pickup belonging to Cornerstone Partners Horticultural Services, was struck by a Union Pacific train. Local police and fire departments responded quickly to the incident. (Source: Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Nov 24)
October 4, 2025
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Huntley Withdraws from Planned Metra Station on Chicago-Rockford Rail Line: Huntley officials have decided not to pursue a Metra station on the upcoming passenger rail line connecting Chicago and Rockford. The village cited concerns about downtown traffic, parking, uncertain ridership, and potential financial obligations. The Illinois Department of Transportation confirmed, (Source: Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Oct 4)
October 2, 2025
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Resident Confronts Armed Burglary Suspect in Rural Harvard Home: A resident encountered two masked individuals during a burglary at a home on Perkins Road near Harvard. One suspect, identified as John P. Walker of Belvidere, allegedly fired a gunshot before fleeing. Walker faces multiple charges, including armed violence and theft. The incident is under McHenry (Source: Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Oct 2)