Spring Grove man accused of cocaine, marijuana gummies, fireworks offenses gets 4 years in prison

A Spring Grove man has been sentenced to four years in prison in a plea deal after he was accused of possessing 20.1 grams of cocaine, more than 1,200 grams of marijuana gummies and six commercial-grade fireworks.

Brian McManaway, 47, entered a guilty plea Friday before Judge Mark Gerhardt to one count of possession of 15 to 100 grams of cocaine, a Class 1 felony.

In exchange for the plea, all other charges were dropped, including a Class X felony count of possession with intent to deliver 15 to 100 grams of cocaine.

In the defendant’s detention hearing in May, McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Julio Cantre said police in April learned that McManaway was “using, making and selling crack cocaine.” The tip led to McHenry County sheriff’s deputies searching his house.

Cantre said authorities found drug paraphernalia used to make crack cocaine; a white rock substance; spoon; scale; 1,220 grams, or more than 2½ pounds, of THC gummies; molds to make gummies; 20.1 grams of cocaine and six commercial-grade fireworks.

The prosecutor said authorities also found “several” firearms in the home, despite McManaway telling police that he had taken his guns to a family member’s house, and he was told by police that his firearm owner’s identification card was suspended. However, McManaway was not charged with any gun-related offenses in connection with this arrest or in any separate cases, according to McHenry County court records. The court granted permission for eight of the firearms that were being held by authorities at the time to be released to McManaway’s parents if one of them had a valid FOID card, according to court documents.

McManaway was also initially charged with transferring explosive materials without a license, related to the fireworks allegedly in his possession, but that was among the charges that were dropped in the plea deal.

In ruling that McManaway be detained in the county jail pretrial, Chief Judge Michael Chmiel had said he was “concerned” with the “enormity of what’s involved here” and that McManaway allegedly lied to police that he did not have the firearms.

“This is alarming,” Chmiel said.