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WOODSTOCK – Hebron Village President John Jacobson on Tuesday formally denied drug and firearms charges based on allegations that police found cocaine and drug paraphernalia at his home during a March search after an incident when Jacobson was found unconscious.
Jacobson, 68, was arraigned Tuesday before McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer and pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony; unlawful possession of a firearm without a requisite firearms owner identification card, a Class 3 felony; two counts of unlawful possession of firearm ammunition and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
After a search warrant was executed on Jacobson's home days later, police said they seized a silver spoon with burn marks, a syringe, 140 rounds of ammunition, a shotgun and a Chore Boy – a scouring pad used in makeshift crack pipes, according to court documents.
[ John Jacobson and Hebron history ]
He is next scheduled to appear in court June 7.
Jacobson said during a village board meeting April 19 that he did not plan to resign "right now," despite a petition signed by 232 residents handed over at the meeting asking him to step down.
Hebron resident John Santoro attended Tuesday’s court proceeding and helped organize the petition that was delivered to the village board. He said he believes Jacobson needs to step down from his village position and “get help on his own.”
“Hebron has a shady past, and I want that past to be buried,” Santoro said outside the courtroom. “He’s a sore thumb in our town.”
Jacobson previously faced drug charges during his 2013 campaign after police said they found crack cocaine in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
He pleaded guilty to amended misdemeanor charges after the election and remained in office. In October 2013, he faced driving under the influence charges in Wisconsin, and his drug-related probation ended in July 2014 without any further action from McHenry County prosecutors.