Judge sets bond for Cary-Grove High School student charged with disorderly conduct

WOODSTOCK – Judge Robert Wilbrandt set bond at $25,000 for Daniel M. Battaglia of Cary on Thursday morning after he was arrested on disorderly conduct charges.

Battaglia, 18, was arrested Wednesday at Cary-Grove High School in connection with a social media threat posted Monday that was directed at the school, where he is a student, Cary police have said.

According to a complaint filed Thursday in McHenry County court, Battaglia created a false threat to shoot the students at Cary-Grove by overlaying images from a former student’s Facebook account. Battaglia then sent the fabricated post to 20 others via text message, the complaint stated.

Several posts were circulating Monday, Cary police said. One of the images was fabricated, a second image was reposted but not created by the person whose name was attached to it, and the third image contained false information distributed by multiple individuals in response to the fabricated image.

Police continue to investigate the incident.

Battaglia could face up to three years in prison if convicted. He bonded out of jail Thursday morning, and his next court appearance is set for Monday morning.

Wilbrandt ordered several conditions on Battaglia’s release. He must surrender any firearms, not live in a house with firearms, go through a psychiatric evaluation, be attached to electric monitoring, stay away from Cary-Grove High School until the school determines whether to let him return, and stay off social media and the internet.

The McHenry County Public Defender’s Office said no one from the office had been appointed to Battaglia’s case as of Thursday afternoon. Attempts to reach Battaglia were unsuccessful.

Cary Deputy Police Chief Jim Fillmore said a 16-year-old Cary-Grove student was charged with disorderly conduct in connection with a "broad" social media threat made Jan. 31. He said that threat and the recent one were isolated situations.