Guns, drugs seized from McHenry apartment, sheriff’s office says

Two Spring Grove men and a McHenry man and woman face felony drug charges after police seized cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, two AR-15 style rifles and a 9-mm pistol from a McHenry apartment, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said.

The McHenry Police Department contacted the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force on Feb. 9 after a “large quantity of narcotics” was found as a result of a well-being check at an apartment in the 4000 block of Oak Avenue in McHenry, according to a news release.

The task force, which included members of the Lake in the Hills and McHenry police departments, responded to the scene and seized about 66.5 pounds of marijuana products, 112 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 50.7 grams of cocaine and the three guns, according to the release.

Liam P. Keegan, 20, and Jade D. McGuire, 19, who both have the McHenry apartment listed as their residence in court records, were arrested that day and taken to the McHenry County Jail.

Keegan was charged with possession with intent to deliver and possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, and endangering the life of a child, according to the criminal complaint filed in McHenry County.

The most serious charge – possession with intent to deliver more than 5,000 grams of marijuana – is a Class X felony, which typically carries a punishment of six to 30 years in prison.

The marijuana products found in the apartment included 6 pounds of marijuana flower, 7 pounds of marijuana wax, 774 1-gram THC cartridges and 51.6 pounds of marijuana edibles, according to a motion filed by prosecutors in Keegan’s case. More than $1,000 in cash also was found in addition to packaging materials, digital scales and a vacuum sealer.

McGuire faces charges of possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and endangering the life of a child, court records show. The most serious charge against her is a Class 1 felony, which typically carries a sentence of four to 15 years in prison.

Michael Strauss, 19, and Austin T. Hird, 19, both of Spring Grove, also were arrested this week – Strauss on Tuesday and Hird on Friday, the McHenry County Jail log shows.

The two are charged in connection with the narcotics activity alleged to have occurred at the McHenry apartment, the sheriff’s office said in the release.

Strauss faces possession with intent to deliver marijuana and cocaine, two Class X felonies; as well as two counts of possession of a controlled substance possession of marijuana, undertaking a calculated criminal marijuana conspiracy, and possession of a firearm and ammunition without a firearm owner’s identification card, according to the criminal complaint.

According to a prosecutor’s motion, Strauss admitted to police that the items stored at the McHenry apartment were his.

Hird was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and cocaine, as well as lesser felonies of possession of marijuana and undertaking a calculated criminal marijuana conspiracy.

All four remained at the jail as of Friday afternoon. Keegan would need to post $6,000 to be released, McGuire $3,500, Strauss $50,000 and Hird $20,000, court records show.

Attempts Friday to reach defense attorneys for the suspects were not successful.