Excerpts from the northwestherald.com:
Two Crystal Lake firefighters are serving misdemeanor sentences outside of jail in connection with a March 2017 disturbance at a local bar.
Timothy R. Kerley and Adam J. Fowles were two of nine off-duty Crystal Lake firefighters subject to disciplinary action after a March 27, 2017, baby shower at Finn McCool’s in Crystal Lake. Witnesses told an investigator hired by the city that firefighters groped customers and bar employees, continued drinking after they were cut off and eventually were kicked out, according to a report prepared by an Oak Brook law firm.
Two of the firefighters allegedly were so drunk that other patrons complained about the pair and employees refused to continue to serve them.
Fowles also was accused of grabbing a woman by her hips and thrusting his pelvis against her, court records show. Prosecutors originally charged him with a felony count of aggravated battery. On Thursday, however, he accepted an offer from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor battery charge.
Alford pleas allow a defendant to maintain their innocence while accepting the penalties of a conviction.
