McHenry man turns down plea deal offer of 8 years in prison, goes to trial and gets 14 years

A McHenry County judge on Thursday sentenced a McHenry man with a past felony conviction to 14 years in prison for possessing multiple narcotics and a loaded firearm found in a McHenry home.

The case against Kenneth Price, 32, was heard last month before Judge Mark Gerhardt, who found Price guilty of possession, as well as manufacturing and delivery, of 15 to 100 grams of cocaine and being an armed habitual criminal, each a Class X felony.

Price was sentenced to 14 years in prison for both Class X felonies, five years for possession with intent to deliver 500 to 2,000 grams of marijuana and four years for possession of a firearm as a felon. All sentences will run at the same time. Price is also sentenced to pay $3,968 in fines and fees, according to court documents.

Price was also convicted of manufacturing, delivering and possessing 500 to 2,000 grams of marijuana, unlawful use or possession of weapons or ammunition by a convicted felon, and endangering the life or health of a child, according to the indictment filed in the McHenry County courthouse.

Assistant State’s Attorney Stephen Gregorowicz brought up Price’s extensive criminal record that the prosecutor said dates back to when he was a minor with multiple drug and domestic violence charges.

“He has shown no indication of reforming himself,” Gregorowicz said.

Gerhardt spoke of Price’s “significant lack of ability to rehabilitate” and multiple past drug offenses before giving the sentencing.

Assistant Public Defender Richard Behof motioned for a new trial, saying the state’s attorney’s office failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Price committed the offenses. The judge denied the request.

Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Miller said the state had offered Price eight years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to only one of the Class X charges, but he turned it down.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Det. Nicholas Clesceri testified during the sentencing hearing Thursday that Price has been brought up in “numerous tips” over the “past 12 years.”

The current case stems from the execution of a search warrant at the home on Dec. 12, 2023. McHenry County Sheriff’s detectives who had been surveilling the house testified they found individually wrapped baggies of crack and powder cocaine in the primary bedroom, as well as individual, vacuum sealed plastic bags of marijuana in the basement.

Michelle Etheridge, who works in the Illinois State Police crime lab, testified last month there were 4.8 grams of crack cocaine, 27.9 grams of powder cocaine and 942 grams, or more than 2 pounds, of marijuana seized from the home. Detectives also found a loaded firearm in a closet, which, along with the narcotics, was accessible to the children who were in the home.

Prosecutors said Price lived in the home with Desiree Crowcroft, 29, the mother of his child, who also faces drug charges stemming from the raid and with whom detectives said Price is known to sell drugs, according to court records and authorities.

Crowcroft was arrested again and detained for alleged cocaine possession in September while on pretrial release for the 2023 charges. She is scheduled to appear in court for a potential plea for both cases on Feb. 6, court records show.

On Dec. 12, 2023, Daniel Hawkins, also was arrested as he was seen driving away from the house. He was charged with various drug offenses. Last year, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possessing less than 5 grams of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 3½ years in prison, records show.