Former Hebron village president gets probation for crack pipe

After a McHenry County judge told the former village president of Hebron Tuesday that he needed to regain the trust of his community, he sentenced him to one year of probation for possessing a crack pipe found in his home the night he overdosed in 2016.

John Jacobson, 72, had pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Judge Robert Wilbrandt also sentenced Jacobson to 60 days in jail to be served at 50%, which he stayed. He warned Jacobson that if he committed any crimes he would immediately go to jail. He also must pay a $1,000 fine, seek drug and alcohol treatment and submit to regular drug and alcohol tests at his own expense.

Wilbrandt noted that his current charges occurred while he was on conditional discharge for another drug offense from 2013 and that he held a position of trust in the community at the time. But he also said Jacobson had lived an "exemplary life" and he helped the community of Hebron.

After entering his guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge last week, a jury trial was held and he was found not-guilty of felony possession of a firearm without a firearm owners ID card.

In court Tuesday, Jacobson's attorney Jeff Altman, said his client has been sober since that night and has been "reassessing the direction of his life."

Jacobson, who has lived in Hebron since 1955 and served in several official capacities including as a longtime trustee and had worked for the township fire department for 50 years, was remorseful Tuesday. He has completed treatment for alcohol and drugs, been active in counseling and church and reads scripture daily.

"I've embarrassed myself, my family and [the] town I love so much," he said.