Former Hebron village president admits to violating probation

The former Hebron village president convicted of possessing a crack pipe when police searched his home in 2016 has been resentenced after violating his probation.

John Jacobson will serve 30 days in the McHenry County Jail after a judge Friday granted prosecutors’ petition to revoke the 72-year-old’s original probation sentence. Jacobson also must serve two years of probation and an additional 60 days in jail if he fails to comply with the conditions of his sentence. He will receive day-for-day credit as he completes his jail sentence.

In 2016, Jacobson was found overdosing on crack cocaine in his home. During a search later that day, police found less than an ounce of cocaine, two crack pipes, a shotgun and ammunition, for which authorities said he did not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card. He was found not guilty of the weapons charge at a jury trial.

Police said they were called to Jacobson’s Hebron home May 17, 2016, and found him taking shallow breaths while lying on the master bathroom floor in only his underwear.

Emergency responders took Jacobson to the hospital, and he later was released.

While inside Jacobson’s home, an officer reported seeing in plain view what appeared to be a used crack pipe and an unmarked orange pill bottle containing suspected crack rocks.

A subsequent search of Jacobson’s home revealed drugs, paraphernalia, a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun and 140 rounds of ammunition, according to police reports.

In January, retired McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather said police were wrong to have searched Jacobson’s home for drugs since officers were called to respond to a medical emergency.

As a result, Prather dismissed the felony drug possession charge filed against Jacobson in connection with the 2016 incident.

Jacobson went on to plead guilty in June to a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charge. He was in turn sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to seek drug and alcohol treatment, as well as submit to regular drug and alcohol tests.

Months later, the former village president then tested positive for alcohol Aug. 13 and admitted to drinking Aug. 12, court documents show.

In addition to Jacobson’s jail and probation sentences, he must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and continue attending alcohol treatment counseling.