Man charged with shooting gun near salesmen

A 50-year-old man faces charges of reckless discharge of a weapon after shot a gun near a pair of salesmen in an effort to scare them, McHenry County Sheriff’s officials said.

Mark A. Molenaar, 50, of 100 block of South Road near Fox River Grove, was charged with the felony after firing one round into the ground from a revolver at about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday night, officials said.

Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Fox River Grove Police Department were called to Molenaar’s home after the salesmen claimed the homeowner fired at them.

Officers said the salesmen had gone to Molenaar’s home to sell magazines, but Molenaar took out a Smith & Wesson revolver and fired a single shot into the ground.

The men fled the scene and called police. No one was injured.

Molenaar admitted to having the gun, but said it accidentally went off, sheriff’s officials said.

Police searched the home and found several other firearms, they said, but Molenaar did not have a valid Firearm Owner Identification Card so the guns were seized.

Molenaar is free after posting 10 percent of $15,000. He is due back in court on June 17.