Cary man charged with soliciting murder for hire

A Cary man was arrested Friday and later charged with solicitation to commit murder for hire after asking another man to kill someone, according to Philip Hiscock, chief of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s criminal division.

Stanley J. Helmer, 58, of an unknown address in Cary, appeared in bond court Saturday morning for the solicitation charge, a Class X felony punishable by 20 to 40 years in prison, Hiscock said.

Helmer also appeared on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, another felony related to the same alleged plot.

Hiscock said both charges were lodged by the Illinois State Police.

Bail was set at $400,000 for this set of offenses, of which Helmer posted 10 percent and was released, Hiscock said.

On Saturday, an additional set of charges was filed against Helmer for a separate matter, according to Hiscock.

He was arrested at the Oakwood Hills Police Department on charges including solicitation of an aggravated battery, conspiracy to commit an aggravated battery — both felonies — and attempted harassment, a misdemeanor.

Helmer appeared in bond court Monday morning for the second set of charges where bail was set at $100,000, of which he also paid 10 percent to be released.

The Illinois State Police was unable to comment Monday. A spokesman said policy is to stop commenting on cases once they are turned over to the state’s attorney’s office.

The Oakwood Hills Police Department is also involved in the matter. Representatives of that department are waiting to comment until ongoing facts of the investigation are settled, possibly sometime Tuesday.

Helmer’s next court date is set for 9 a.m. March 24 in Woodstock. He will be represented by Todd Cohen, an attorney with McNamee and Mahoney Ltd., of West Dundee, according to Hiscock.